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Talk To Kids provides high-quality resources to help adults talk to kids about mental illness.
Why Talking to Kids About Mental Illness is Important
Mental illness is an unavoidable part of the human experience
Mental illness is an unavoidable part of the human experience. It is virtually impossible to go through life in this world without being touched by mental illness, either directly or indirectly. Despite how common it is, though, mental illness remains widely feared and misunderstood. This fear and misunderstanding have led to a culture of secrecy and shame around mental illness, which can be detrimental both to people suffering from the illnesses and to those around them. For children who are affected by mental illness in themselves or a family member, this secrecy can be especially damaging.
Children are extremely perceptive, and when they sense that something is “off,” but cannot put it into words, it can cause confusion, anger, sadness, and a loss of confidence in their own perceptions.
The difficult and critical task of talking to kids about mental illness
Many adults struggle to talk about mental illness, through no fault of their own. Our culture has only recently begun to acknowledge the damage that the stigmatization of mental illness has caused throughout history. Thankfully, society is beginning to shift in this regard, and mental illness is being discussed in increasingly open and productive ways. Our aim is to join that conversation, and specifically to assist adults with the especially difficult but critical task of talking to kids about mental illness.
Talk To Kids draws on the expertise of a psychiatrist, an early childhood educator, and a graphic designer to create high quality resources and trainings aimed at increasing mental health literacy among kids, families, and communities. We hope you’ll join us.