May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the first week in May is dedicated to celebrating children and youth mental health well-being. Historically, organizations like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health select a day and a theme within the first full week in May to observe as “National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day”. The County of San Diego began celebrating children’s mental health well-being according to the SAMHSA theme in 2015. Since 2017, NAMI San Diego’s Children, Youth and Family Liaison has led the local children and youth mental health well-being celebration efforts. The event provides opportunities to celebrate mental health well-being through different ways of community engagement and art expression. The annual celebration is an opportunity for collaboration and outreach to the families of San Diego county.
