Public Awareness Committee

Co-Chairs: Florence Townsend and Paula Wolff

The Public Awareness Committee is composed of individuals representing mental health providers, advocates, family members, and government organizations committed to promoting awareness of the mental health needs of all children from birth to age eighteen, including policies and effective practices that promote strong social and emotional development, resiliency and enhanced strengths

Key accomplishments include:

• New public awareness, campaign launched in early May, "Say It Out Loud" seeks to de-stigmatize mental health and promote greater understanding of children's social and emotional development needs: The multi-year statewide campaign features advertising (outdoor, radio and print), media relations and an innovative, educational website, (www.mentalhealthillinois.org). The goal is to promote good mental health for everyone by encouraging people to share their mental health recovery stories, and urging families and caregivers with mental health issues to use the campaign's resources to get help.

• New brochure and website promotes awareness of ICMHP activities on behalf of the children of Illinois and their families. The brochure has already proven to be a useful tool in telling the ICMHP story. The ICMHP website, (www.icmhp.org) will broaden that effort and will promote on-going progress and accomplishments of ICMHP as they become available.