Gov. Cox declares May 7 as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Governor Spencer Cox has declared May 7 as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, seeking to focus on education, early intervention, increasing access to care, and reducing barriers to service.

“Mental health challenges don’t discriminate—they can impact anyone, including our children and teens,” said Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox. “We must continue to shine a light on the importance of mental health and recognize the struggles many young people face. By coming together as a community, we can offer meaningful support and strengthen Utah’s younger generations.”

The declaration comes in partnership with the Children’s Center Utah, an organization that focuses on “providing trauma-informed, evidence-based mental care exclusively to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents and caregivers.”

This marks the fourth time that the state has recognized a day in May, which is nationally recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, to elevate the importance of children’s mental health.

“Mental health is foundational to a child’s development, yet it’s often overlooked,” said The Children’s Center Utah president and CEO Rebecca Dutson.

The declaration refers to research conducted by The Children’s Center Utah and the Kem. C Gardner Policy Institute that found rates of untreated mental health needs for Utah children are among the highest in the U.S. The research also found nearly 50% of Utah adults with a mental health condition are not receiving treatment, urging the importance of recognition and awareness.

Additionally, in Utah, suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 17.

In April 2024, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that 72% of U.S. counties lack a practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist, highlighting the need for care nationwide.

“In Utah, we have the opportunity to lead by example. When we invest in our children’s mental health, we’re building stronger families, schools, and communities for generations to come,” Dutson said.