05/04/2026
May is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 youth (children under 18 years of age) suffer from mental health disorders, including behavioral and eating disorders. This number has been on the rise in recent years in children under 18 years old. Increased use of social media, underage substance use, abuse (mental, physical, or emotional) and social challenges among peers (e.g: bullying, cyberbullying, or exclusion) have a growing impact on children and teen mental health.
Good mental health practices start in early childhood and as early as age five. It is key in decreasing the toll of mental health disorders in children and teens to begin mental health care as early as possible. While it is not a guarantee to eliminate mental health disorders in the future, helping children understand how their brains and emotions work and how to get a handle on them is a foundational gift we can provide them at a young age.
Mental health is tied to emotional health. As we raise children to handle their emotions and their actions as a result of those emotions, the “why” to explain their emotions or actions is just as important. It is vital to treat mental health just as we do physical health.
As children grow up, when mental health issues arise, if provided with understanding and support, they are far less likely to suffer from severe mental health disorders or suicidal thoughts or attempts. As family members and friends, we can all support one another from childhood to adulthood by showing examples of good mental health practices, being supportive of others who are going through difficult times, and sharing resources and knowledge with the next generation.
