AWARENESS DAY 2016:
An Innovative Year
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created National
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day) more than a decade ago to shine a
national spotlight on the importance of children’s mental health and reinforce that positive mental
health is essential to a child’s healthy development.
In direct response to feedback from communities focused on children’s mental health around the
country, SAMHSA set off to approach Awareness Day 2016 in a new way. The strategy was to
provide youth, families, and communities with the opportunity to join a national conversation about
children’s mental health via digital platforms, as well as face to face.
2
Finding Help. Finding Hope.