October 10, 2003 is World Mental Health Day, an education campaign of the World Federation for Mental Health. Rosalynn Carter is the honorary chairman this year, and the focus is on the "identification, treatment, and prevention of emotional and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents."
Mental health resources differ significantly from country-to-country. While developed nations in the Western world provide mental health resources for all ages, many third world countries struggle to help families meet basic needs. One day a year we are asked to focus on the importance of mental health all over the world.
The official World Mental Health Day site includes information to help children and adolescents all over the world. Check out the following resources:
- Helping Children Deal with Grief and Loss
- In Times of Conflict, Don't forget the Children
- WMHDAY 2003 Press Release
- Convention on the Rights of the Child
- 2002 WMHDAY Global Education Packet
- Children and Trauma Fact Sheet
