Celebrating Children's Mental Health Awareness Week

© 2026 Niki Picogna. All rights reserved.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, observed each year during the first week of May, is especially meaningful to our practice. As a proud Community Champion for the Children's Mental Health Matters campaign, we are committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma, promoting protective factors, and improving access to mental health resources for children and families throughout Maryland (and DC).

Mental health is an essential part of a child’s overall well-being. Emotional wellness affects how children learn, build relationships, cope with stress, and develop confidence. Yet despite growing awareness around children’s mental health, many families still face barriers to care.

Research shows that approximately 1 in 5 children experience a mental health condition each year, but nearly 20% of children with mental health conditions do not receive the treatment they need. Early identification and intervention can make a significant difference in a child’s emotional, academic, and social development.

Some of the most common mental health concerns affecting children and adolescents today include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression and mood disorders
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Behavioral and emotional regulation challenges
• Trauma and stress-related concerns
• Social pressures, bullying, and low self-esteem

In recent years, children and teens have also faced increasing stress related to academic pressure, social media, world events, and social isolation. These challenges can impact emotional resilience and family well-being if support is not available.

At our practice, we believe mental health care should be compassionate, accessible, and family-centered. We are dedicated to supporting the Bethesda community by helping children and families build resilience, strengthen coping skills, and feel empowered to seek help when needed.

Wear Green and Start the Conversation

During Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, wearing green is a simple but meaningful way to show support for children’s mental health. A green ribbon, lollipop, balloon, shirt, pin, or even a fun green accessory can spark important conversations and remind our community that mental health is just as important as physical health. Green represents growth, hope, and new beginnings. 

Every conversation helps reduce stigma and reminds children and families that they are not alone.

Sometimes children open up more easily through playful, creative, and low-pressure conversations. Parents do not need to have the “perfect” words — what matters most is creating a safe space where children feel comfortable sharing.

Here are some gentle and kid-friendly conversation starters parents can try:

• “What color matches your mood today?”
• “If your feelings were weather, what would they be right now?”
• “What was the best part of your day? What was the hardest part?”
• “If your worries could talk, what would they say?”
• “What helps your brain feel calm and happy?”
• “What is something that made you smile today?”
• “If you could put your feelings in a backpack, would it feel light or heavy today?”
• “Who helps you feel safe when you’re upset?”
• “What does your body feel like when you’re nervous or stressed?”
• “If your feelings were an animal today, what animal would they be?”
• “What is one thing you wish grown-ups understood about kids?”
• “What are three things that help you feel brave?”

Creative activities can also help children express emotions more comfortably. Families can try:

• Drawing feelings faces or mood charts
• Using stuffed animals or toys to act out emotions
• Creating a “feelings check-in” during dinner or bedtime
• Practicing calm breathing together
• Reading books about emotions and resilience

These small conversations help children build emotional awareness, coping skills, and confidence in talking about their mental health.

Listening to the Needs of Our Community

As part of our commitment to supporting Bethesda area families, we also want to better understand the needs of our community. 

Research highlights the important role parents and caregivers play in supporting children’s mental health. McKay et al. (2021) found that parenting support programs help parents better understand their children’s emotions and behaviors, while also reducing feelings of self-blame and overwhelm. Increased understanding can empower parents to respond more confidently and compassionately to their child’s emotional needs.

Similarly, Reardon et al. (2018) noted that many parents struggle with determining the severity of their child’s mental health concerns and often look to others’ experiences for guidance. The study found that when parents better understood the impact anxiety was having on their children, they were more likely to recognize the value of seeking professional support.

We hope to continue learning more about:

• The biggest mental health concerns families are facing
• Preferred meeting times for parent or support groups
• Barriers that make attending support groups or therapy difficult
• What types of support families would find most helpful, including:
  • Parent support groups
  • Parent education
  • Coping skills workshops
  • Anxiety and stress management resources
  • Parenting workshops 

By listening to families and responding to their needs, we can continue building programs and services that are supportive, practical, and accessible.

Helpful Mental Health Resources for Families

Families looking for additional support may find these organizations helpful:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Mental Heath Association of Maryland
• Mental Health America
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP
• The Trevor Project
• The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 for immediate mental health support

During Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we encourage families, educators, healthcare providers, and community members to continue working together to prioritize children’s emotional wellness. By increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and expanding access to care, we can help every child feel supported, understood, and empowered to thrive.There are so many fun community activities happening this month—get involved by checking out the events here: Children’s Mental Health Matters Events

Our practice remains committed to supporting the mental health needs of children and families across Bethesda and Maryland/DC — not only this week, but every day of the year. 💚

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Data and statistics on children’s mental health. https://www.cdc.gov/children-mental-health/data-research/index.html

Children’s Mental Health Matters. (2025). Campaign toolkit. https://www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org

McKay, K., Kennedy, E., & Young, B. (2021). “Sometimes I think my frustration is the real issue”: A qualitative study of parents’ experiences of transformation after a parenting program. PLOS ONE, 16(10), Article e0258528. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258528

Meng, J. F., et al. (2024). Factors associated with not receiving mental health services among children with a mental disorder. Preventing Chronic Disease. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2024/24_0126.htm

Reardon, T., Harvey, K., Baranowska, M., O’Brien, D., Smith, L., & Creswell, C. (2018). Barriers and facilitators to parents seeking and accessing professional support for anxiety disorders in children: Qualitative interview study. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-018-1107-2

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Mental health: Get the facts. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Child and adolescent mental health. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587174/