Mental Health Awareness Month 2026
AACAP Urges Immediate Action to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Washington, DC, May 2026 - As the nation recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month, and during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, May 3 to May 9, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is calling for timely, sustained action to address the ongoing crisis in children’s mental health.
Across the United States, growing numbers of children and teens are experiencing anxiety, depression, and other serious mental health conditions. Nearly half of the estimated 8 million U.S. children with a treatable mental health condition do not receive care from a qualified mental health professional. Others struggle to access effective and safe psychiatric medications. Stigma and other systemic barriers to care put young people at increased risk of substance use and suicide. Timely diagnosis, evidence-based treatments, and strong systems of support are essential to reversing this trajectory.
“Children’s mental health is at a critical inflection point,” said John T. Walkup, MD, President, AACAP. “We are seeing the consequences of unmet need in real time. Too many children and families are unable to access care when and where they need it. We must act with urgency to strengthen the systems that support them.”
AACAP is bringing that urgency directly to policymakers during its 2026 Legislative Conference, where more than 250 members, patients, and advocates are meeting with legislative offices in Washington, DC to demand action. These conversations focus on protecting access to lifesaving medications, strengthening the mental health workforce, and ensuring that children’s mental health remains a clear national priority at a time when federal agencies and programs face uncertainty and shifting priorities.
“Mental Health Awareness Month must be more than recognition. It must drive action,” said Heidi B. Fordi, CAE, Executive Director and CEO, AACAP. “AACAP is advancing policies that expand access to high-quality care, support our physician workforce, and reduce stigma and other barriers that prevent children and families from getting help.”
Mental health conditions in youth are common, serious, and treatable. AACAP calls on policymakers, health systems, and communities to prioritize children’s mental health by investing in evidence-based care, expanding the workforce, and preserving the programs that shield and protect the mental health of our nation’s youth.
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The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry promotes the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through advocacy, education, and research. Child and adolescent psychiatrists are the leading physician authority on children’s mental health. For more information, please visit www.aacap.org
Media Contact:
Rob Grant, Communications Director
202.966.7300
rgrant@aacap.org
www.aacap.org