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 C.O.P.E.
Campaign
(Community Outreach and Public Education) for Children and Adolescents
“Americans are inundated with messages about success-
in school, in a profession, in parenting, in relationships-without
appreciating that successful performance rests on a foundation of
mental health.” (Surgeon General’s Report, 1999)
The Mental Health Association of New York City’s C.O.P.E.
Campaign for children and adolescents is a newly expanded, citywide
education campaign designed to heighten public awareness about mental
health and destigmatize mental illness. Mental health problems can
affect people of all ages and of all backgrounds. The purpose of
the campaign is to educate young people and their parents, school
faculty and staff, and health care workers coming in contact with
youth to identify mental health problems and to encourage children
and families to seek early intervention.
The campaign promotes public understanding of mental health and
substance abuse issues in children and adolescents, and provides
information about the causes, symptoms, and risk factors related
to depression, anxiety (including post traumatic stress disorder),
and other mental health concerns. Our commitment is to dispel myths
and stigma, to prevent the neglect and potential escalation of emotional
and behavioral problems, and to provide information about how to
access help.
Key Messages:
- Mental health is fundamental to health.
- Mental disorders in children, adolescents and adults are
real, common, and treatable.
- No one is immune.
- Treatment works!
Program Goals:
- To promote positive, balanced, and accurate information about
mental health, mental illness, treatment and recovery.
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To increase prevention and early identification of mental illness
in children and adolescents.
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To educate young people and adults about mental health and
mental illness, and how to access help.
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To provide schools, mental health providers, and family service
organizations materials on mental health that are age appropriate,
culturally relevant, and up to date.
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To link schools and the other organizations with appropriate
services and treatment.
What We Provide:
- Free consultation to discuss your organizations needs, and
to plan future activities. We will meet with staff, parent’s
groups, youth groups, etc… to better understand how our
services can best meet your needs.
- Interactive workshops and presentations for students, parents
and professionals on the signs, symptoms and causes of mental
health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating
disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, treatment
options, and how to know when professional help is needed.
- Workshops and presentations in English, Spanish, Cantonese
and Mandarin.
- Depression and anxiety screening for students (with parental
consent), parents, and staff.
- Staff training on the use of mental health screening tools.
- Collaboration with schools and organizations to create programming
focusing on mental health education.
- Assist schools in integrating mental health awareness within
student culture via the development of “psychology clubs”
and similar student-run, faculty sponsored extracurricular activities.
- Multi-lingual literature on mental health.
For more information about workshops, mental health screening,
or our other outreach activities, please call:
- (212) 254-0333, ext. 321
for presentations in English.
- (212) 254-0333, ext 337
for presentations in Spanish.
- (212) 254-0333, ext. 334
for presentations in Mandarin and Cantonese.
- (718) 299-2771 for presentations in the Bronx.
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