Families raise awareness during Children's Mental Health Awareness Week
To mark Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, from left, Bridget Graham and her son Jesse Groves of Lewiston give customer Ray Langdon of Newfane a green ribbon and information about local services. The event took place at the Lockport Plaza on South Transit Road, Lockport and was sponsored by the S.M.I.L.E. Family Support Group of New Directions Youth and Family Services, along with Compeer Niagara for Kids.
“People aren’t educated to think of children as having mental health problems,” said Jimmie Kowalchuk of Compeer Niagara for Kids. “But it’s treatable.”
However, there is often a stigma attached to mental health problems, and many children go undiagnosed.
That’s why Ms. Kowalchuk and members of the S.M.I.L.E. Family Support Group of New Directions Youth and Family Services were at the Lockport Plaza Wednesday, May 7, handing out green ribbons to raise awareness during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
They also handed out information on how families can get help for their children, such as getting together with other parents at the meetings of S.M.I.L.E. (Support Me In Life’s Endeavors).
Rose Edwards, a parent, said the meetings help her keep up with new information on topics such as special education. It has also helped her son, Malik Jones, 11.
“It helps him meet positive friends in his age group,” she said.
Parents or guardians of a child with a social, behavioral or mental health issue may attend the support group meetings. Parents must be residents of Niagara County.
In Lockport, meetings are held from 7-8:30 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of the month at the Dale Association, 33 Ontario St.
In Wheatfield, meetings are held from 7-8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of the month at the Wheatfield Community Senior Center, 2790 Church Rd.
New Directions offers other children’s mental health services including Intensive Case Management, Home-Based Crisis Intervention and Mobile Crisis Outreach. For more information, call Marge Wright, Family Support Coordinator, at 433-4487, ext. 467 or e-mail her at mwright@ndyfs.org.
The Mental Health Association has brochures, books and videos families can borrow, along with many other services, Ms. Kowalchuk noted.
“We’ve got a lot for parents to tap into—at no cost,” she said.
For more information on Compeer for Kids and the Mental Health Association, call 433-3780 or go to www.mhanc.com.
These programs are supported by the Niagara County Department of Mental Health and the New York State Office of Mental Health.
May 12, 2008
