Child and Youth Mental Health Day reminds us of the need to actively support children and youth who are experiencing mental health challenges. The theme for this year’s event is “I Care About You.”

Established by BC-based organization FamilySmart in 2007, the day aims to spark meaningful conversations about mental health between young people and adults. It is about building positive connections that help young people feel seen, heard and valued.

FamilySmart offers resources to help facilitate caring conversations, including a toolkit, videos and activities. You can find these resources and learn how to get involved at FamilySmart’s website.

Mental health disorders can be profoundly destabilizing for young people. Prevention programs can avert or reduce the impact of common disorders, but these efforts must be expanded in order to reach more children in need. To learn more about effective interventions that help prevent childhood mental disorders, see Volume 14, No. 1 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.