SILER CITY, NC — The Chatham Child Wellbeing Collaborative is proud to announce CommUNITY: Mind Matters, a family free event aimed at supporting mental health awareness and fostering community connection. This event will feature a variety of activities for families and individuals of all ages. The event will include food, live music, guest speakers, and community resources. Local teens will have the opportunity to socialize, and those interested can take the pledge to support mental health and be entered into a prize raffle.

WHEN: April 12th, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

WHERE: Ernest Ramsey Gym
512 E. 6th St., Siler City, NC 27344

WHY IT MATTERS: Mental health challenges among youth continue to rise, with recent data from the 2023 NC Child Health Report Card revealing that one in five North Carolina high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, an increase from 16% in 2017. Discrimination has also been linked to worse mental health outcomes among students. In response to the growing mental health crisis, clinicians declared a “National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health” in October 2021, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.

Stakeholders can safeguard children’s mental health by removing barriers to care, expanding mental health services in public schools (especially in rural areas), and improving access to crisis intervention. Ensuring safe storage of firearms and prescription drugs is also a key strategy to reduce the risk of youth self-harm. The Chatham Child Well-being Collaborative is open to community members, families, youth, organizations, and entities interested in meeting the needs of youth with complex needs. This can include youth with mental health, behavioral health, substance use, intellectual/ developmental disabilities and/or traumatic brain injury and are involved in one or more systems, (ie. child welfare, juvenile justice, school, health care, mental and behavioral health).

“Bringing attention to mental health can help reduce stigma and encourage more families and children to seek the help they need without fear of judgment,” said Tia Brown, Youth Health & Tobacco Initiatives Lead at the Chatham County Public Health Department.

In addition to the event, the Chatham County Public Health Department website lists a variety of mental health resources for those in need. For more information about available support, visit www.chathamcountync.gov/mentalhealth.

The Chatham Child Wellbeing Collaborative invites everyone to come together for a day of awareness, support, and community as we work to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our youth.