NYC First Daughter, SAMHSA to Highlight Mental Health Treatment Access and Peer Support for Young Adults

May 1, 2014

Honorary Chairperson Chiara de Blasio joins HHS Secretary, SAMHSA Administrator and others May 6 for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day launch event

New York City First Daughter Chiara de Blasio will join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to celebrate the launch of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: Inspiring Resilience, Creating Hope (Awareness Day) on Tuesday, May 6.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will present de Blasio with a special recognition award for serving as an example of hope to other young adults by speaking out about her experience in recovering from depression and substance use. Other honorees will be young adult peer support leaders from across the country sharing their expertise on ways to address the unique behavioral health needs of young adults (ages 16–25) Together with SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, the honorees will focus on the value of peer support networks in helping young adults with behavioral health disorders.

The event—which will be held in conjunction with the National Council for Behavioral Health’s annual conference—will also highlight the findings from a new report on mental health treatment access for young adults.

For more information about Awareness Day and to view the list of collaborating organizations, visit http://www.samhsa.gov/children. Follow #HeroesofHope and #IGetSupportFrom to join the conversation about Awareness Day on Twitter.