Mental Health Awareness Month

Are you aware that in 2016, 1 in 6 children in the United States aged 2-8 years old had a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder? We are confident that the number has only increased due to most recent events in our country and the decline in access to mental health services. In 2021, over 57 million adults experienced mental illness. Mental health impacts individuals both young and old and we can not be silent about it!

BY5’s goal this month is to support the mental wellbeing of Early care professionals, children, and families! Here are some resources to do that:

For Early care professionals:

  • SPARK has shared some phenomenal resources here through their Build Learn Grow wellness program including a Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit (English & Spanish), GuidanceTalks videos, and more.

  • The Building Wellness program is open to all who own, work or volunteer in ECE programs and their household family members and dependents

    • Offering free, short-term counseling with highly trained clinicians to listen and help individuals and their family members with issues including anxiety, depression, stress, grief, life adjustments and marital/relationship conflicts.

  • Brightwheel has a blog promoting 50+ ways for EC educators to Prioritize Mental Health here

  • Head Start shares resources here on how Early Educators can respond to crises and foster recovery in young children with trauma

For Children

  • Mindfulness Exercises for children through GoNoodle here (English & Spanish)

  • Feeling Games for Children through PBS kids here

  • Preschool Inspirations provides a list of over 40 books about feelings for preschoolers here

  • Zero-to-Three offers a list of social emotional books for Infants and Toddlers here

For Parents

  • The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) providers Positive Parenting Tips here (English & Spanish) with free materials here

  • Mental Health America provides free online screenings here

  • The Youth Mental Heath Project offers a free Parent Support Network here

    • Meetings are confidential, free and open to any parent or guardian who is concerned about their kids (ages 1 – 25) who struggle with anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, or other emotional, behavioral or mental health problems.

Missy Modesitt