Start Something Positive This Week-end!

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."Jim Rhon

Governor Deal Signs Proclomation Declairing May 12th Children's Mental Health Day in Georgia. Awareness Week 2012 Awareness Week History/Timeline In 1949, The National Mental Health Association declared May as Mental Health Month. Although this nationally recognized observance began as Mental Health Week, with an increase in public interest and a broadening scope of issues, it grew into a month-long awareness campaign. 1950s-60's. Through the next 2 decades, special emphasis was placed on educating the public around mental illness and inviting them to state hospitals and other locations to learn more.  In the late 1960s, this national observance was expanded to become May is Mental Health Month to bring greater awareness to the importance of mental health care. 1970s. In the 1970s observances shifted to community based events as state hospital "patients" were moved to community settings. In 1991, a group of parents in Missouri got together and decided that one of the most important projects they could undertake was  to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding children's mental health.  They formed a coalition of parents, professionals and other stakeholders and created Children's Mental Health Aware-ness Week.  Over the next five years three more states, Kansas, Illinois and Ohio began their own celebration of Children's Mental Health Week. The National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health later joined the coalition and promoted the mission. In 1996, PAL launched the first Children's Mental Health Week in Massachusetts.  Its theme was "One Youth At A Time" and included posters, a tool kit, as well as public service announcements. The campaign has grown each year since then. In 2004, the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health declared the first full week of May as Children's Mental Health Awareness Week nationally.  National Federation partners and all 120 Federation chap-ters and state organizations were invited and encouraged to participate in a week long celebration of advocacy and awareness efforts. In 2006, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services launched an annual national initiative called "National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day," which occurs during Children's Mental Health Awareness Week. In 2007, the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health launched the Annual Green Ribbon Campaign, one of the their most important awareness and education campaigns.  The green ribbon is a key symbol in social marketing and awareness efforts.  It is an uplifting campaign while also spreading awareness and serving to spread awareness through positive public health promotion effort and begin dialogue throughout communities nationally and internationally. Today, the goal of this nationally recognized event is to increase public awareness and educate communities to expand the understanding of children's mental health needs and their resulting impact on families. Children's Mental Health Awareness Week Activitives  Georgia Parent Support Network PLEASE JOIN US!!!!! National's Children's Mental Health Awareness Day Georgia Rally Wednesday, May 9, 2012 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Georgia Parent Support Network 1395 Metropolitan Pkwy SW Atlanta, GA 30310 Lunch will be served.  Please contact Melissa Alford- 404-437-5973.