The Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health declares the first week in May as National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme for the week of May 3-7, 2010 is “Promoting Positive Mental Health from Birth to Adulthood.”

To combat stigma, advocates and community members may be seen wearing green ribbons to signify new growth, new life and new beginnings.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders among children. With suicide being the third leading cause of death for youth aged 15-24, it is imperative that children are taught ways to stay mentally healthy as well as being treated for possible mental health concerns.

Along with early intervention, developing coping strategies to help children and teens combat daily stressors is essential to maintaining positive mental health. The following suggestions are ways in which we can take control of stress to develop healthy strategies for staying healthy.

Relax: Relaxation is important. It’s easy to forget to take time for ourselves when things get stressful, but finding healthy activities can help you relax plus they are often easy to do and don’t cost a thing. Put time aside to do some of these activities with your children and see which ones work best for you: go for a walk and take time to point out things around you, go fishing, take a bike ride, play a favorite game or sport, do a puzzle, read books, listen to music they like, paint, color or draw, sit quietly and tell each other about what happened that day.

Help others: Having opportunities for generosity helps so that we don’t focus exclusively on our own problems. Youth can get involved in the community through volunteering at an organization or by helping neighbors, family members or school mates. There are usually no financial benefits to volunteering but often times it is a positive meaningful experience in other ways such as: learning or developing a new skill, providing a sense of achievement, locating possible new interests or hobbies, meeting new people, and possibly boosting future career options.

Positive Peer Support: Teach your child how to form positive relationships by helping them recognize qualities to look for in a good friend. According to SAMHSA, children who feel isolated and want to be accepted are often more prone to succumb to peer pressures by using tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs. Visit www.family.samhsa.gov/teach/ to find more information on how to help your child choose their friends wisely.

These are just a few ways in which we can help our children develop positive mental health and coping strategies they can take with them from adolescence to adulthood. Explore how your family can build healthy activities into your daily routine and wear a green ribbon this month to remind you of the importance of children’s mental health.