The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Today is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, an annual event created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) four years ago to bring attention to the mental health needs of children and promote effective and accessible services to meet these needs.

According to a report from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (PDF), approximately 4.5 to 6.3 million children and adolescents experience symptoms of a mental health disorder, such as depression, ADHD, or bipolar disorder. More than half of these children do not receive treatment due to high costs and few options for treatment in most communities.

This year's theme, "Thriving in the Community," focuses on the important role that community-based programs can play in addressing the mental health needs of high school students so that they can excel in education.  Providing school-based mental health services also helps lower the anxiety of students with mental illnesses, and decrease the likelihood that they will attempt suicide.  

SAMHSA's Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program works with communities to provide mental health care to children and assist schools with administering proper care.