May 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month was first declared. In 2006, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day was chosen as a special day during this month to focus on the mental health needs of children.

Since 2006, May has been a time to acknowledge the importance of children’s mental health, show that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development from birth, promote positive youth development, resiliency, and recovery, along with the transformation of mental health service delivery for youth, adolescents, and their families.