SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES

• Children’s & Teen’s Perspective – Discussions through drawings and stories
• Workshops for parents, caregivers, and providers
• Regional or local educational conferences
• Special topic forums or roundtable discussions in the community
• Mental health fairs with depression and anxiety screenings
• Special topic high school assembly with speaker
• Video presentations and discussion
• School announcements made by the students

INFORMAL ACTIVITIES

• Green ribbon awareness – word of mouth is key!
• Childhood depression & anxiety screening available to the public
• Information fairs
• Seedling project – present each legislative representative with a packet of information on children’s mental health issues – we rely on them to support children and general mental health laws!
• Organization or support program open house
• Public service announcements, press releases and the official proclamation
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
• Brown bag lunch series on various learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, community services and medication education

ARTISTIC/EXPRESSION/RECREATION ACTIVITIES

• Essay or poster contests
• Puppet shows emphasizing sensitivity to disabilities
• Teen or group art murals
• Family concert
• “Express yourself Tees” – T-shirts created by children & teens
• Movie Night – choose a movie that will bring sensitivity and understanding to disabilities and direct a follow-up discussion
• Open mic poetry session for teens and parents
• Teen improvisational of theater show
• Book reading contest – ask a local school/library to display books on disabilities
• “Be a mentor” or “Be a Buddy” day