What's Inside:
FDA Orders "Black Box" Warning on Antidepressants Prescribed for Children and Teens

President’s 2003 Report Languishes a Year Later

First Person: Acting in Our Own Best Interest

Back to School Kit Give Parents Practical Ways to Reach Kids

Campus Mental Health Problems On the Rise

Lessons Learned: MHA Takes Mental Health Back to School

From the MHA Field

June Meeting Drew Experts, Advocates to the “Fight for Justice”

NMHA Tools You Can Use

Research in Brief

The latest research shows that when parents actively engage their children in daily conversation about their lives in-and out-of school, their kids have higher self-esteem, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, tend to have better grades and are more likely to attend college. To support every child’s emotional development and educational success, NMHA and the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have teamed up to launch a national back-to-school educational initiative that’s based on SAMHSA’s heralded “15+ Make Time to Listen, Take Time to Talk” program.

Developed by SAMHSA to help parents and kids discuss everyday issues and tough topics, the “15+" program encourages parents to set aside at least 15 minutes a day to listen and talk with their children. NMHA is adapting and distributing the program for use in communities across the country during this back-to-school season, and throughout the year.“ Back-to-school time is a great opportunity to for parents to really begin talking with their children about what’s happening in their lives,” said Michael Faenza, MSSW, NMHA president and CEO. “In just a few minutes a day, parents can provide needed emotional support to kids who are making their way through the turbulent times of childhood and adolescence.” The back-to-school kit contains materials that will help NMHA’s 340 affiliates and other groups reach out to families and promote parent-child communication on a range of topics from kids’ aspirations to academic and social pressures to bullying.

The package includes:

• An activity planner that provides a list of ideas and events that can help generate parent-child dialogue.
• Children’s Mental Health Matters fact sheets that cover the basics of mental health and offer additional resources.
• A reading list of books for different age children to help promote conversation.

Download copies of the kit. For more information, call NMHA at 800-969-NMHA (6642).