Wear a green ribbon during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week to bring awareness to the needs of children with emotional, behavioral and social disabilities, and their families across Maine.

Why Green?To combat stigma! In the 1800s the color green was used to

brand people who were labeled “insane.” The national children’s mental health community decided to continue using the color

green, but with a completely different focus.

Green signifies new life, new growth and new beginnings. We wear green ribbons to raise public awareness and show our support of these children and their families.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week

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Bill of Rights for Children’s Mental Health Disorders and Their Families

1. Treatment must be family-driven and child-focused. Families and youth, (when appropriate), must have a primary decision-making role in their treatment.

2. Children should receive care in home and community-based settings as close to home as possible.

3. Mental health services are an integral part of a child’s overall health care. Insurance companies must not discriminate against children with mental illnesses by imposing financial burdens and barriers to treatment, such as differential deductibles, co-pays, annual or lifetime caps, or arbitrary limits on access to medically necessary inpatient and/or outpatient services.

4. Children should receive care from highly-qualified professionals who are acting in the best interest of the child and family, with appropriate informed consent.

5. Parents and children are entitled to as much information as possible about the risks and benefits of all treatment options, including anticipated outcomes.

6. Children receiving medications for mental disorders should be monitored appropriately to optimize the benefit and reduce any risks or potential side effects which may be associated with such treatments.

7. Children and their families should have access to a comprehensive continuum of care, based on their needs, including a full range of psychosocial, behavioral, pharmacological, and educational services, regardless of the cost.

8. Children should receive treatment within a coordinated system of care where all agencies (e.g., health, mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice and schools, etc.) delivering services work together to support recovery and optimize treatment outcome.

9. Children and families are entitled to an increased investment in high-quality research on the origin, diagnosis and treatment of childhood disorders.

10. Children and families need and deserve access to mental health professionals with appropriate training and experience. Primary care professionals providing mental health services must have access to consultation and referral resources from qualified mental health professionals.

Please note: This Bill of Rights is not a legal document. A violation of these Rights does not indicate illegal activity.

May 7-13, 2018

Mailing Address: PO Box 558, Augusta, ME 04332Physical Address: 10 Caldwell Rd., Augusta, ME 04330

1-800-264-9224 • gearparentnetwork.orggearparentnetwork.org

Partnering For Help & Hope Following Trauma

If there is concern about a youth’s mental heath, it is important to get help as soon as possible.

Remember that you are not alone. We are also parents and want to help. Every child’s mental health is important, and many children have mental health issues. These issues can be recognized and successfully treated with the collaboration of caring families and communities.

G.E.A.R. Parent Network is a statewide family support and advocacy organization focusing on the behavioral, emotional, mental and social health of all children and youth in Maine.

Are you worried about your child’s emotional well-being? Through parent-to-parent sharing of experiences and knowledge, G.E.A.R. empowers parents and caregivers of children with behavioral health needs to build on their family’s strengths and to advocate for their family’s needs. Free services available to parents and families include: support by phone, monthly workshops and support groups, education, health and legal trainings, and social opportunities. We are parents helping each other and offer unconditional support – no blame, no shame and no judgment. We want you to know that you are not alone!

For support and information, contact us toll free at 1-800-264-9224 or at gearparentnetwork.org.

G.E.A.R. Parent Network is Maine’s chapter of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, providing representation for all of Maine.

Mental Health is a Family Affair:Know The Warning Signs

Get the Help You Need

Behaves in ways that cause problems:

• Uses alcohol or other drugs• Eats large amounts of food then throws up, abuses laxatives or takes enemas to

avoid weight gain• Continues to diet and/or exercise obsessively, although thin• Constantly violates boundaries• Does things that can be life threatening

Is troubled by feeling:

A variety of signs may point to a possible mental health problem or serious emotional disturbance in a child or adolescent. Pay attention if a child or adolescent you know:

• Sad and hopeless for an extended period of time

• Very angry most of the time, cries a lot or overreacts

• Worthless or guilty• Anxious or worried more than

other young people• Unable to recover from the loss

or death of someone close• Extremely fearful, more fears

than most kids• Constantly concerned about

physical appearance• Frightened that his or her mind is controlled or is out of control

Experiences big changes:

• Does much worse in school• Loses interest in things he or she usually enjoyed• Has unexplained changes in sleeping or eating habits• Avoids friends or family and wants to be alone much of the time• Daydreams too much and can’t get things done• Feels life is too hard to handle or considers suicide• Hears voices that cannot be explained

Is limited by:

• Poor concentration – can’t think straight or make up his or her mind • Inability to sit still or focus attention• Worry about being harmed, hurting others or doing something “bad”• Need to wash, clean things or perform routines many times a day• Thoughts that race – almost too fast to follow• Persistent nightmares