This week, Families as Allies proudly joins our parent organization, the National Federation of Families, in recognizing Children’s Mental Health Action Week, taking place May 4–10, 2025. The theme for this year, “That’s a WRAP!”—for Wellness, Resilience, Action, and Purpose—invites families, communities, and advocates to move beyond awareness and into meaningful engagement. It’s a time to uplift the voices of children, youth, and families navigating mental health challenges and to ensure their needs and strengths are truly recognized.
Children’s Mental Health Action Week has its roots in the long-standing Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, but the name change in 2022 reflected a more profound shift from simply raising awareness to actively promoting acceptance and change. Once used in association with outdated stigmas, we’ve reclaimed the green ribbon as a powerful symbol of renewal and hope. Each May, we are reminded that mental health is essential to every child’s overall well-being and that all children deserve understanding and support—not judgment.
The 2025 theme, “That’s a WRAP!” emphasizes four guiding principles. “Wellness” means prioritizing emotional, physical, and mental health. “Resilience” encourages us to help children and families recover and thrive in adversity. “Action” calls us to do more than talk—to advocate, engage, and support. And “Purpose” reminds us that our work must be grounded in a shared commitment to lasting change. Each week in May, the National Federation of Families highlights one of these pillars through stories, resources, and practical tips on social media.
At Families as Allies, we celebrate Children’s Mental Health Action Week by sharing these national resources with our community and amplifying local voices. We’ll post on our site and social media, encouraging everyone to participate by wearing green, engaging with the online content, and sharing your experiences. We’re also reminding families of the opportunity to complete the Lifting Voices survey if you are a parent, caregiver, or youth aged 12–26 with lived experience in the mental health system.
This week is to show support and take steps—large or small—toward a world where we all treat children’s mental health with compassion, not stigma. Let’s wrap our collective energy around this cause and commit to building systems of care that reflect wellness, resilience, action, and purpose. Together, we can make a lasting difference.
How You Can Get Involved
Your participation can make a significant difference. Here is how you can get involved:
- Wear Green: Don a green ribbon to show your support and spark conversations about mental health.
- Educate Yourself and Others: Utilize resources from the National Federation of Families to learn and share information about children’s mental health.
- Share Your Story: If you’re a parent, caregiver, or youth aged 12–26 with experience in the mental health system, consider completing the Lifting Voices survey to help improve services and support.
- Engage with Us: Join Families as Allies in our events and online discussions to foster a community of acceptance and action.
