Duchess Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry, Demi Lovato, Jon Hamm, and Glenn Close are just a few of several world-known celebrities who are using their platform to shed a spotlight on mental health.
Their voices, unyielding passion, and for some, personal experiences, are lending to the conversation that problems with mental health are real, and that if left untreated, can leave many people feeling alone and unworthy of living a fulfilling life.
Across the United States, it was estimated that 44.7 million adults or about 1 in 6 Americans ages 18 or older, lived with a mental illness in 2016 according to data available by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders.
In San Diego, it is estimated that there are 1 in 5 children who are struggling with a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. This means more than 105,000 children and teens are struggling in our community, but even more disturbing, is the fact that 80% of them are not getting the help they need.
Whether it is the stigma of mental health, or the fact that parents may be unaware about mental health or developmental disorders to help them recognize symptoms and signs, https://www.urgentway.com/xanax-buy-now/ the fact is that too many children are not getting the help they need. For these children and for those with families who do not have the means or the knowledge to access appropriate care, the risk of developing more serious problems as they become adults is a reality that cannot continue to be ignored.
The San Diego Center for Children is the oldest children’s nonprofit in San Diego who has helped families and children find hope and healing over the past 131 years. Through a comprehensive and nationally accredited continuum of programs, over 1,000 children and families receive support every day across 8 program sites in our county with services ranging from outpatient and in-home based therapy to residential treatment, a K-12 nonpublic school, school-based programs, therapeutic support for foster youth, as well as the recruitment and training of foster parents.
Professional and supportive staff help guide children, teens and families in building critical skills and community connections, but ultimately the confidence and self-empowerment needed to shape their lives in a positive way.
The organization understands that one solution does not fit all, and that one treatment approach does not help address all problems. Therefore, families seeking help at the Center participate in a comprehensive family-centered assessment process that informs the development of individualized child and family action plans that is strength-based, family centered and culturally relevant to their needs.
Although the Center is leading change in our community to address mental health, we can all play a role and lend a voice to people in need, just as celebrities are doing so in a positive way. You can create change to help the many children in our community who are in need of life-changing services.
If you know of a child in need or want to get help for your child, please visit www.sdhelpforkids.org. If you are looking for another way to help, please consider making a donation to help families and children receive the services they need. To donate and for more information about the San Diego Center for Children, visit www.centerforchildren.org.
