Washington, DC - The American Psychological Association will engage a variety of audiences to raise awareness during Mental Health Awareness Month in May with the following activities:
Monday, May 4: “Speak Up for Kids” Change Maker Awards, The Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St. New York, 5:30-8 p.m.
APA is partnering with the Child Mind Institute for the fourth year of the “Speak Up for Kids” campaign. APA will take part in the Change Maker Awards in New York. The awards celebrate trailblazers, organizations and heroes who give voice to children’s mental health. The Children’s Mental Health Report will also be released and will detail key data points and information to paint a portrait of children’s mental health in the United States.
May 4-10: #ResilienceBooster Social Media Campaign
APA’s Office on Socioeconomic Status and its Children, Youth and Families Office will launch a social media campaign to publicize the Resilience Booster: Parent Tip Tool. This tool provides helpful information on building resilience to support healthy development among children and outlines ways caregivers can help children build resilience in their homes, neighborhoods and communities, as well as in child care and school settings. Follow the conversation on social media using the #ResilienceBooster hashtag. The social media campaign will culminate on Mother’s Day (May 10).
Thursday, May 7: “Talking with Teens About Stress Management” Webinar, 7-8 p.m. EDT
APA and the National Parent Teacher Association are hosting a webinar entitled “Talking with Teens About Stress Management.” APA member David Palmiter, PhD, professor of psychology and director of the Psychological Services Center at Marywood University, will lead a discussion on how parents can help teens manage stress and stay healthy. Parents can register to participate online.
Thursday, May 7: Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
As a national supporter of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, APA will highlight the needs of children, youth and young adults with mental or substance use disorders and their families, while demonstrating how these needs can be best met through integrated care. APA’s Children, Youth and Families Office will also promote the “Text, Talk, Act — Because mental health matters” campaign, which encourages people to participate remotely in the nationwide event with their friends, family and peers.
Thursday, May 7: Community Awareness Initiative on Behavioral Therapy for Children with ADHD
APA will partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch an online community awareness outreach initiative on behavior therapy for young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Research suggests that behavioral therapy has been associated with improvements in academic, social and family functioning, especially for preschoolers, and those benefits are maintained several years after treatment.
Friday, May 8, 2015: Sankofa Conference, University of Maryland, SMC University Center, 621 West Lombard St., Baltimore
Leo Rennie, MPA, senior legislative and federal affairs officer, will speak on behalf of APA’s Public Interest Government Relations Office at The Center for Black Equity-sponsored Sankofa Conference in Baltimore. The conference brings together mental health and substance abuse providers to focus on mental health and wellness in black same-gender loving and transgender men communities. Rennie will address the importance of discussing mental health and wellness in both of these communities and the implications of untreated and undiagnosed mental health issues.
May 10-16: National Women’s Health Week
APA will participate in the 16th annual National Women’s Health Week campaign. The goal of the campaign is to empower women to make their health a priority. Using the #NWHW hashtag, APA will use social media to promote women’s health and mental health and highlight various APA resources related to stress, postpartum depression, intimate partner violence, etc.
Monday, May 11: “Speaking of Psychology” Podcast — Stamping out mental health stigma
Millions of people suffer from mental illness but stigma prevents many of them from seeking effective treatments. In this episode, psychologist Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, talks about how the city of Philadelphia is using several novel approaches to help improve the mental health of its residents, fight stigma and get people on a path to recovery.
Tuesday, May 12: APA’s Work and Well-Being Survey
APA's Center for Organizational Excellence will release the results of its annual Work and Well-Being Survey, which explores the attitudes and experiences of American workers. This year's survey includes a focus on employee mental health and resilience. More information about the survey can be found in the APA press room.
Sunday, May 17: International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
APA’s Office on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns will mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. This year’s theme focuses on LGBT youth. APA will highlight its new Resolution on Gender and Sexual Orientation Diversity in Children and Adolescents in Schools and the work of its Safe and Supportive Schools Project.
May 18-24: Older Adults Mental Health Week
The APA Office on Aging will work with the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging to bring attention to the mental and behavioral health needs of our growing older adult population. This week is dedicated to promoting mental health among the aging community and preventing discrimination against older adults who have mental health problems and other disabilities.
Wednesday, May 20: Blogging for Mental Health
Psychologists writing for APA’s public education blog, “Your Mind, Your Body,” invite people to share their stories related to mental health and emotional wellness.
Monday, May 25: “Speaking of Psychology” Podcast – Making psychotherapy work for you
Research has shown that psychotherapy is an effective tool for people who are dealing with a wide range of mental and behavioral health issues, yet people are still hesitant to visit a therapist for treatment. In this episode, psychologist and researcher Bruce Wampold, PhD, talks about why psychotherapy works and can often be a better alternative to medications.
Saturday, May 30: Greater Washington Urban League Health Fair, Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
APA will staff a table providing materials to attendees of the Greater Washington Urban League’s Health Fair. APA staff will join a range of professionals covering medical, dietary and mental health fields and offer resources that address warning signs for depression and other mental health issues that disproportionately affect the black and Latino/a urban community. They will also be able to provide information about therapists and/or emergency resources in the D.C. area.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.
