Raeann Tucker
Director of Health Promotion
MAY 3, 2024
The Henry and Stark County Health Department and First Choice Healthcare announces that May 5-11, 2024 has been designated as Children’s Mental Health Week. This nationally recognized observance aims to increase public acceptance, educate communities, and expand the general public’s understanding of children’s mental health needs and its resulting impact on their parents, caregivers, and families across the lifespan.
Children’s Mental Health Week allows all of us to celebrate children of any age while promoting the importance of their mental health as well as their need for services and acceptance that support recovery, resilience, and success for children and their families.
Consider the following Children & Youth Mental & Behavioral Health Facts:
· 1 in 6 US youth experience mental illness each year, and only half of them receive treatment.
· 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
· Among US Adolescents (aged 12-17) – 1 in 6 experienced a major depressive episode in the last year.
· 3 million US Adolescents had serious thoughts of suicide.
· The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.
· 60% of Americans are concerned about the stigma and around mental illness.
With limited resources for mental health in our community it is now more important than ever to provide individuals with the behavioral and mental health support they need. Our own Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Mental Health Therapists, Nurses and supportive staff are pleased to be able to offer this support to our community.
There are many reasons an individual may seek treatment. Our providers are prepared to support patients aged 5 and above who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, substance abuse and addictions, behavior problems, bipolar disorder, family/parenting issues, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and other related disorders, sexual assault, suicide prevention, trauma and loss.
For more information on Behavioral and Mental Health services or to schedule an appointment simply call First Choice Healthcare in Kewanee at 309-852-5272! Help and understanding are just a phone call away.