Childrens Mental Health Awareness Day

Mental health disorders in children are just as real, common and treatable as they are in adults.

Left untreated, children's mental health disorders can lead to problems at home, trouble in school and in the community, substance abuse and even suicide. In fact, depression alone affects as many as one in every 33 children and one in eight teens.


My sister and I both grew up with mental illness. Hers being depression starting at around age 6, and me being bi-polar, probably starting in my tween years. Growing up in our day, mental illness was not common in conversation. The stereotypes have been either you are a crazy maniac, or in a catatonic state. We were not diagnosed until we were adults. Knowing now that we had these problems in our younger years, makes me even more aware that our children could possibly suffer from mental illness. Thank God that we are aware now, and there will be help for our children if that happens.

My entire family thought that I was so happy, full of energy and had an incredible love for life, knowing now that I was manic. That was how I was on the outside. Some nights, I remember just looking out the window of my room, and sobbing for hours, feeling helpless and hopeless, just praying God for help. Not knowing what kind of help, but just help! The next day , I would cycle out, start over and be in full blown mania. The lower the lows, the higher the highs. And so it went for years. EXHAUSTING!! I went for years, mainly manic. After talking to doctors, some bi-polars can go into their 30's and 40's without ever feeling the lows of bi-polar, and then it happens. Crash and burn. That is what happened to me in 2002.

For so long, I ached to be "normal' and I FINALLY know that there is no "normal". I missed the mania episodes up until about a year ago. Having so much energy and the feeling of being powerful was great. The lows? Not so great. I finally know now, when I'm cycling and with help from my family, know when I need to be adjusted. With medication and therapy, I am enjoying my life so much, and love having a wonderful partner, son and close family. I never take them for granted. I am so proud of myself for being courageous enough to admit that I needed help. It has not been easy....finding the right doctors, getting the right medication and so on.

My hope is that one day there will be no stereotypes of mental disorders, and that's it an illness...just like my cancer was. I needed medical help for that, and need medical care for my mental chemical imbalance. My heart aches for others that are suffering and don't have the family support that my sister and I have. We are so blessed.

Let's get more informed, be aware, and be happy! It's possible. I know:)