NAMI to Present at Whitehall Elementary

For the first time, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania will be presenting a workshop on Anxiety in Children and Teenagers for the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend this free educational event.

What: Anxiety in Children and Teenagers
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 28
Location: Whitehall Elementary School Library
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's Julie Trbovich and Susan Harrington will present on the signs and symptoms of anxiety in children. Problem solving strategies and positive communication techniques will be discussed. Parents will be given an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation.

For more information or to register, contact Amy Lewis at alewis@bwschools.net or (412) 885-7525.

Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is pleased to announce Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on Tuesday, May 3. The Allegheny County Department of Human Services will be planning Awareness Day activities throughout the month of May.

A project of The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day began in 2005 as a grassroots initiative designed to demonstrate that children with mental health needs can thrive in their communities. This year’s national theme is “Building Resilience for Young Children Dealing with Trauma.”

According to SAMHSA’s website:

As resilient as children may be, they can — even at an early age — experience trauma that can have long-term effects on their behavioral health. Research shows that when exposed to traumatic events, even children as young as 18 months can develop serious psychological problems later in childhood and in adulthood. As they grow, these children take with them the effects of traumatic events, and are more likely to experience problems with substance abuse, depression, and stress management as a result.

Click here to read about childhood trauma’s impact on health risks.

Communities around the country will be holding Awareness Day events. To learn more about national Awareness Day efforts, visit SAMHSA's Awareness Day website. .

Explore Your Emotions!

In honor of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day on May 6, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is helping the Allegheny County Dept. of Human Services distribute free coloring books Explore Your Emotions! to children ages 3 to 8.  

To order Explore Your Emotions coloring books -- at no charge --  for your classroom, school district or organization, contact Darcey Garda at (412) 366-3788 or dgarda@namiswpa.org.  You can order coloring books in any quantity. They are available in limited supply, so place your order soon. Delivery will be arranged within the next two weeks. 

For more information on Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, click here.