About The Campaign
The Collaboration
NAMI Arizona, Family Involvement Center (FIC), the Mental Health Awareness Coalition (MHAC), Community Bridges, and Magellan of Arizona joined forces to educate the community about mental health issues and to highlight ordinary people affected by mental illness who are conquering their mental illness and making extraordinary contributions to others and the community.
Mental Illness Strikes 1 in 4
Behavioral health is complex and misunderstood. The information on this website is meant to serve as a one-stop shop for information, resources, events and activities about mental health and substance abuse. The site includes a calendar of events, highlights of individuals living with a mental illness, facts and statistics on mental health, resources for where to go for help and links to the four campaign partners: NAMI Arizona, FIC, the MHAC, Community Bridges and Magellan of Arizona.
Click here to go to the information and resources page.
Extraordinary People Campaign
The The Extraordinary People Campaign aims to personify the issue through “Extraordinary People” who make valuable contributions to our community despite experiencing mental illness or dealing with substance abuse issues.
While mental illness is a challenge, it is not insurmountable. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of mental health partners in Maricopa County, we are building an even stronger mental health system to help the one in four individuals touched by mental illness on their recovery journeys.
"Extraordinary People" puts a face to the issue of mental illness. While they are ordinary people like you and me, they are extraordinary in their determination to overcome their mental health challenges in order to realize a fulfilling life in the community, a rewarding job, and renewed and loving relationships with family and friends.
These "Extraordinary People" represent any one of us who could be touched by mental health or substance abuse issues. By sharing their stories of recovery and achievements, they help to erase the stigma surrounding mental illness and demonstrate the overall progress and specific accomplishments of Maricopa County’s mental health system.
Click here to go to the "Extraordinary People" page.
Annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and Day
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day) is a day for everyone to promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery, and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families. Awareness Day raises awareness of effective programs for children's mental health needs; demonstrates how children's mental health initiatives promote positive youth development, recovery, and resilience; and shows how children with mental health needs thrive in their communities.
On Tuesday, May 3, 2011, National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day marked its sixth anniversary, as well as a first-time focus on the topic of early childhood. Communities across the country observed the day with events, youth demonstrations and social networking campaigns that raised awareness about the importance of mental health and increased understanding of the mental health needs of children and their families.
Awareness Day 2011 specifically focused on increasing basic awareness of the importance positive mental health has on a child's healthy development, with the key message that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development from birth."
Awareness Day efforts encouraged the following actions:
- Integrate mental health into every environment that impacts child development from birth
- Nurture the social and emotional well-being of children from birth
- Look for and discuss milestones of a child's social and emotional development from birth
Source: http://www.samhsa.gov/children/
Annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, May 1 – 7, 2011
The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health declares the first full week in May as National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. This week is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the triumphs and challenges in children’s mental health and emphasizing the importance of family and youth involvement in the children’s mental health movement!
The theme for the 2011 National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week was: The Diversity and Resilience of Our Families.
The National Federation invited all of their chapters and statewide organizations to use the week to promote positive mental health, well-being, and social development for all children and youth. They joined the National Federation in sending out the following messages:
- Mental health is essential to overall health and well-being.
- Serious emotional and mental health disorders in children and youth are real and treatable.
- Children and youth with mental health challenges and their families deserve access to services and supports that are family driven, youth guided and culturally appropriate.
- Values of acceptance, dignity and social inclusion should be promoted throughout all communities for children, youth and families.
- Family and youth voice is a valued asset in determining appropriate services and interventions.
Source: http://www.ffcmh.org/events/national-children%e2%80%99s-mental-health-awareness-week/
The Green Ribbon
The symbol for Children’s Mental Health Awareness is the green ribbon. In the 1800s, the color green was used to brand people who were labeled “insane.” The children's mental health community decided to continue using the color green, but with a completely different focus. Green signifies new life, new growth and new beginnings. Therefore, we wear green ribbons to raise public awareness, better the lives of children and youth with serious emotional disorders, and show our support to these children and their families.
