For the third year in a row this May, I’ll have a MAYnicure with one finger a different shade than the rest. Not because I’m trying to be trendy, but because I’m raising awareness for the 1 in 5 children who are affected by mental illness disorders. It’s a campaign I’m proud to support by Clarity Child Guidance Center, who says “1 in 5 children in the U.S. suffers from mental illness. That’s 80,000 children in Bexar County alone! And, only 1 in 5 of those children actually receives treatment.”
Just listen to the CCGC’s statistics on the severity of the situation:
• Half of the children will drop out of high school.
• They are twice as likely to start using illicit drugs and alcohol.
• They are more likely to end up in the juvenile system.
• Many attempt suicide.
Look around you: we all know a family struggling with autism, ADHD, or even eating disorders. Far too often we hear about how access to mental health care might have prevented a tragic act of violence. People, including children, are needlessly suffering in silence. Perhaps the toughest part in overcoming these challenges is first coming to terms with the negative stigmas associated with mental illness in this country. We rush to help injured or physically ill children, and yet we are cautious and nervous around mental illness. Why is that? Why do we view their illness as different than any other illness?
Once again, Clarity Child Guidance Center is aiming to change this awful predicament in May, which just so happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month. They are encouraging everyone across the country who supports a better system to care for and understand mental illness in children to paint their nails with #maynicures. The catch is, one nail is a different color than the rest to represent the 1 in 5 children who suffer from mental illness. Tell your friends, tell your children, tell anyone on the street who asks why one nail is a different color. It’s your way of saying you see the children are struggling with mental illness, and you want to help.
This year they are also hosting a kick-off celebration at the Witte Museum on May 6th! It’s a free event, but there is a suggested donation of $10 to offset the costs for the nonprofit. You can RSVP by clicking here. I’ll be there with my family, and the girls and I will have our MAYnicures ready! 🙂
For more information, check out the 1 in 5 minds website here. And be sure to share the photos of your “Maynicure” with the hashtag #maynicures on social media. It may be for your child, it may be your friend’s or your family member’s, but we can ALL join in to support them on the road to wellness.
XO,
A
P.S. This post was sponsored by Creative Noggin. Don’t worry though, all opinions are my own!
