May 1st, 2024
By: UCCS Media Committee
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it's important that we reflect on what this means in our everyday lives. It's important to keep in mind that our own mental health deeply impacts the ones we love. This is especially true for children who have disabilities and rely on us for support and care.
Taking time to be more aware of your mental health and internal dialogue is paramount. The administration of your thoughts and ideas to the ones you love should be handled with caution and care. If communication serves as a vehicle that transports the thoughts of one mind unto another, then it's important that we deposit a healthy mindset to those placed in our care.
For children, mental health awareness plays a pivotal role in shaping their emotional resilience, cognitive development, and social interactions. From a young age, children absorb the world around them, internalizing societal norms and attitudes towards people places and things. By promoting conversations about feelings, emotions, and self-care, parents, educators, and caregivers instill in children a sense of emotional intelligence and self-awareness—essential tools for navigating life's challenges with confidence and tenacity.