DAYTON, Ohio - Dayton Children’s Hospital is joining the On Our Sleeves® Alliance to bring additional mental health resources to the community and to break stigmas around children’s mental health.
Children don’t wear their thoughts on their sleeves. With 1 in 5 children living with a significant mental health concern and half of all lifetime mental health concerns starting by age 14, we need to give them a voice. On Our Sleeves®, powered by behavioral health experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, aims to provide every community in America with free resources necessary for breaking child mental health stigmas and educating families and advocates, because no child or family should struggle alone
“We are thrilled to be able to bring the On Our Sleeves® movement to the Dayton region,” says Nina Rains, certified prevention specialist. “The numbers surrounding children’s mental health are staggering. Our community has gone through so much these past few years and our kids and families need these resources more than ever. Together we can break the stigma around mental health and make a difference in the long term.”
In recognition of mental health awareness month, Dayton Children’s will be officially launching On Our Sleeves® in our region during the first week of May culminating on Friday, May 7, children’s mental health awareness day.
The goal of launch week is to invite the community to sign up, join and spread the movement to help break stigmas around mental health and keep the conversation going. Those who join the movement will receive regular resources around children’s mental health including ways to engage with the movement locally.
“In order to spread this movement throughout our region, we are looking for influencers and ambassadors to help share the importance of talking about mental health,” says Rains. “This can include sharing on social media, hosting an event or connecting with us for ways to involve your business or organization.”
Community support is vital to the On Our Sleeves movement. Funding for the launch of the program is being provided being provided by the DP&L Foundation and Montgomery County ADAMHS.
4 ways to raise your voice for children’s mental health
1. Sign up to become an advocate and receive updates at childrensdayton.org/onoursleeves
2. Share about On Our Sleeves on social media tagging #OnOurSleeves, @DaytonChildrens @OnOurSleevesOfficial (Instagram)/@OnOurSleeves (Facebook)
3. Share mental health resources from OnOurSleeves.org with friends and family.
4. Share a message of strength and support for children’s mental health by using #OnOurSleeves on your social media.
Dayton Children's Hospital Contact Information
Businesses, organizations or influencers interested in partnering with Dayton Children’s during the
On Our Sleeves Dayton launch week in May or on an ongoing basis can email onoursleeves@childrensdayton.org .
To stay up-to-date on launch week activities please follow Dayton Children’s on Facebook and Instagram.