Media Kit: #HopefulHands for Mental Health Awareness Week

#HopefulHands for Mental Health Awareness Week Media Kit

Caring For Children’s Mental Health Has Never Been More Essential!

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is May 1–7, 2022 and is designed to spread awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and the need for services that support recovery, resilience, and success for youth and their families.

Join us for a week of promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and raising funds for our vital programs. #HopefulHands At Judge Baker Children’s Center, we are committed to ensuring that families have support to care for and strengthen their children’s mental health during this challenging time. The need for parent support, which is crucial for helping families care for their kids’ mental health, has never been higher.

In response to COVID-19, we have created a comprehensive report outlining the significant impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health. At the end of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, our goal is to distribute the report, alongside key excerpts, to the community.

What Can You Do? •

Use this toolkit to spread awareness about children's mental health.

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Share our report detailing the impact of COVID-19 on children’s mental health at the bakercenter.org/covid19

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Donate. Even a small amount can make a big difference!

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Follow us on social media and promote #HopefulHands

Included in this toolkit: •

Our COVID-19 Report: Our report, highlighting the significant impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health. Donwload for free at thebakercenter.org/covid19.

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Messaging: The sample messaging can be used as is or can be customized in any way that works best for your community.

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Graphics: There are some sample branded social media image designs included in this toolkit that you are free to share on your socials and with your networks.

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Recommendations: A list of actionable steps for local and state leaders to ensure they’re promoting positive outcomes for children and families.

Shareable Social Media Graphics When sharing graphics, please tag @bakercenterMA

Instagram: instagram.com/bakercenterma Twitter: twitter.com/bakercenterma Facebook: facebook.com/bakercenterma

Recommendations for Change Makers The following is a list of actionable steps for local and state leaders to ensure they’re promoting positive outcomes for children and families.

1. Increase public awareness campaigns about the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

2. Help adults at home, at school, and in communities identify behavioral health needs and connect children to effective care as quickly as possible.

3. Implement state-wide strategies to provide caregivers with the right tools and resources to take care of themselves and their children’s emotional wellbeing.

4. Explore the full impact of the pandemic on child-serving systems and ensure professionals have access to strategies to support children’s mental health.

5. Use COVID-relief funding to invest in state-wide systems of care built on effective, evidence-based practices.

6. Invest in research to explore and monitor the long-term impact of COVID-19 on children and families, including monitoring outcomes of children receiving behavioral health services.

7. Ensure up-to-date information continues to be publicly available and easily accessible.

8. Support vulnerable communities and diverse populations, and deconstruct pandemic-related racism and xenophobia.

CLICK HERE to download a full library of social media graphics.

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More than 140,000, and as high as 175,000 children in the US lost a caregiver due to COVID-19.

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Vaccination and boosters remain the best approach to protect individuals, families, and communities from COVID-19

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50% of households reported experiencing serious depression, anxiety, stress, or sleeping problems.

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ER visits saw a 51% increase in suicide attempts for adolescent girls and a 4% increase for adolescent boys, compared to 2019.

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26% of youth aged 18-24 years old reported having seriously considered suicide.

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Despite increased access to online therapy, wait times to access out-patient care can still be up to 6-12 months.

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73% of LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 17 reported symptoms of anxiety, 67% reported depression and 48% reported serious thoughts of suicide.

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Youth from communities of color, in nonEnglish speaking households and those whose caregivers held low-wage, service industry jobs, were more likely to know someone who died from COVID-19.

Other Resources Mass211 Call2Talk Call 508-532-CALL (2255) – download Call2Talk brochure here

MA Emergency/Crisis Services Call 1 (877) 382-1609 – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Hand Hold MA We’re in this together.

Maintaining Emotional Health & Well Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health DMH Child, Youth, and Family Services American Psychological Association NAMI “You Are Not Alone” Partner Guide National Suicide Prevention Lifeline National Domestic Violence Hotline