childmind.org
Real Science. Real HopeThere has never been a more important
time to speak up for our nation’s kids.
We:
Þ Build a coalition of families, professionals, advocates, the business community, decision-makers and thought leaders, the media and entertainment, to champion children’s mental health
Þ Create an innovative, multifaceted platform with expert advice and resources
Þ Engage the public in a widespread conversation about child and adolescent mental health, and draw national attention to barriers to care
Þ Educate and empower parents with information and resources.
THE NEED
More than 15 million U.S. children have a psychiatric or learning disorder – more than the number of children affected by leukemia, diabetes and AIDS combined.
Without effective, evidence-based intervention and support, kids with psychiatric and learning disorders are at higher risk for academic failure and school dropout, alcohol and substance abuse, involvement in the juvenile justice system, becoming a bully or being bullied, physical illness, unemployment, and even suicide.
Less than half of the children who need help get it, because:
Þ Mental health problems are often perceived as less “real” than physical ones, and stigma and shame can keep people from seeking help
Þ Parents don’t know where to go to get help or what interventions are effective
THE CAMPAIGN
The Child Mind Institute’s Speak Up for Kids campaign aims to promote children’s mental health and eliminate barriers to care.
Each May, the Child Mind Institute's Speak Up for Kids campaign promotes children's mental health and eliminates barriers to care. The centerpiece of Speak Up for Kids 2013 is a series of marquee events—livestreamed talks and roundtable discussions by our nation’s mental health leaders—that expose and address the real barriers that stand in the way of effective mental health care for children and families.
Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, National Institute of Drug Abuse, and Dr. Tom Insel, Director, National Institute on Mental Health are just a few of our headliners this May. Launching on May 1, our campaign website will host the streamed talks as well as videos, written pieces and useful tools such a Symptom Checker, Mental Health Guide, and Guide to Getting Good Help. PSAs and social components like a quiz and viewing guides help carry the message.
Þ Treatment can be expensive and health insurance coverage is limited
Þ Too few professionals are trained to diagnose and treat child and adolescent disorders, and the quality of care is uneven
Þ We have underinvested in the scientific pursuit of better diagnostic tools and treatments
WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER
Þ Reduce the stigma and shame associated with mental illness, by showing how real, common and treatable it is
Þ Intervene early to prevent and address mental health problems and learning differences
Þ Teach people to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and the effectiveness of seeking help
Þ Increase awareness about barriers to care and how to overcome them Þ Encourage people to speak up and seek help early
Þ Increase research in the field of child and adolescent mental health Þ Transform children’s lives
Active Minds is the leading national nonprofit organization working to engage the student voice to change the conversation about mental health. Through a rapidly growing network of more than 400 student-led chapters at colleges and universities, Active Minds is providing information, leadership opportunities and advocacy training to the next generation
The American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States with more than 137,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. APA’s mission is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.
Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
represents 25,000 school psychologists throughout the United States and abroad. NASP empowers school psychologists by advancing effective practices to improve students’ learning, behavior, and mental health.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with 145,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities’ (NCLD) mission is to ensure success for all individuals with learning disabilities in school, at work, and in life. NCLD connects parents and others with essential resources, provides educators with evidence-based tools, and
engages advocates in public policy initiatives.
The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) supports
individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.
The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health is a national family-run organization linking more than 120 chapters and state organizations focused on the issues of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs and their families.
Parents magazine, a founding partner of Speak Up for Kids, is published monthly by Meredith Corporation and has been America’s #1 family magazine for more than 80 years.
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Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics is an interdisciplinary professional organization that promotes the developmental and behavioral health of all infants, children, adolescents and their families by advancing research, education, evidence-based clinical practice and advocacy.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services.
Dr. Tom Insel, Director, National Institute of Mental Health
Thomas R. Insel, MD, is Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the component of the National Institutes of Health charged with generating the knowledge needed to understand, treat, and prevent mental disorders. His tenure at NIMH has been distinguished by groundbreaking findings in the areas of practical clinical trials, autism research, and the role of genetics in mental illnesses.
Congressman Patrick Kennedy
Patrick Kennedy, the co-founder of One Mind for Research, served 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and is predominantly known as the author and lead sponsor of the Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act of 2008. This dramatic piece of legislation provides access to mental health treatment to tens of millions of Americans who previously were denied care.
Nora Volkow, MD, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Nora D. Volkow, MD, became Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health in May 2003. NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. Dr. Volkow’s work has been instrumental in demonstrating that drug addiction is a disease of the human brain. As a research psychiatrist and scientist, Dr. Volkow pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate the toxic effects and addictive properties of abusable drugs.
COPYRIGHT © 2013, CHILD MIND INSTITUTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming mental health care for children everywhere.
Founded by Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz and Brooke Garber Neidich, our organization is committed to finding more effective treatments for childhood psychiatric and learning disorders, building the science of healthy brain development, and empowering children and their families to get help, hope, and answers. We do not accept funding from the pharmaceutical industry.
Learn more on childmind.org. Corporate Partners
ADDitude Magazine America’s Promise Alliance
American Association of School Administrators
American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) American School Counselor Association
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Autism Science Foundation
Autism Society Benetech
Child Care Aware of America Children’s Mental Health Network
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center The Coffee Klatch
Common Sense Media
Council for Exceptional Children Every Child Matters
Federation of Families of South Carolina Fondazione Child
George Washington University Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
KidWX
Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) The Mentor Foundation USA
Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (NADD)
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities National Association of School Nurses
National Association of School Resource Officers National Association of Secondary School Principals National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)
National Association of Student Councils
National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice National Council for Behavioral Health
National Eating Disorder Association National Elementary Honor Society National Honor Society
National Junior Honor Society National Parent Teacher Association New York Metro Parents
Playworks Poses Foundation Public Library Association Selective Mutism Group Special Olympics
Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation Tuesday’s Children
Yale Child Study Center Campaign Advocates
Leaders
Benefactors
Supporters a founding partner of Speak Up for Kids
