Events

Mental Health Spirit Day 2024

May 9th, 2024 is Children’s Mental Health Day – a great time to engage youth in activities around mental health. Whether you are participating as a classroom, school, or organization, show your mental health spirit by choosing one of the activities below or coming up with your own. Submit proof of participation by midnight on May 13th and you could win a pizza party! Activities completed on or before May 9th eligible for submission.

Choose a Spirit Day Activity:

  • Organize a group of students to discuss what mental health means to them and then form a human green ribbon as a pledge to take care of their own mental health.
  • Go Lime Green! The lime green ribbon is the symbol of mental health. Dress-up, make-up, nails or hair – show your lime green spirit and take a group picture.
  • Show your spirit with a cheer, song, dance, collage or other group activity and express: Why Mental Health Matters.
  • Remember the movie Inside Out? Dress up as an emotion or draw a picture that reflects how you feel!
  • Host a film screening!
  • DIY: Come up with your own Mental Health Spirit Day activity! Find additional ideas on our Activity Tip Sheet.

Share the flyer with schools and programs that work with youth!

Submit Proof of Participation here.


More Suicide Prevention Activities and Resources

Share information about the warning signs of suicide. Pain isn’t always obvious. Yet most people who are considering suicide show some warning signs or signals of their intentions. The signs or changes in behavior may appear in conversations, through their actions, or in social media posts. These are of most concern if the behavior is new, has increased or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. 

Share Hope by submitting to the Hope and Justice Film and Art Contest! All art forms, including narratives and original music accepted. The contest is open to youth ages 12 to 24 with submissions due the last day of the month. By submitting an entry to the Hope and Justice contest, youth can win up to $300 in Amazon gift cards! Learn more here.

Share information about suicide prevention by hosting an event in your school or community.

  • Use the Suicide Prevention Activity Guide to plan youth-led mental health and suicide prevention activities. Also available in a print-ready version.
  • Share youth-created films about suicide prevention. Download films and screenings here.
  • Share information about suicide prevention with parents. This brochure is available in English and Spanish.
  • Find additional resources in a multitude of languages as part of the Know the Signs campaign here.

Share the Student Mental Health Thrival Kit. Celebrate wellness and promote positive coping skills for youth with easy to follow activities to enhance basic skills for social emotional wellness. Share the journal electronically or print and share with students! To be added to the waitlist for printed journals please submit a request form.

  • Mental Health Thrival Kits are available in English, Spanish, for Korean-American youth and for Filipino-American youth! Download digital copies here.

Bring the Directing Change program to your organization or school! This is a free and evaluated curriculum delivered as a film contest. Young people learn about mental health and suicide prevention, apply what they learn to film projects, and inspire hope by sharing the created projects with their peers.

  • Youth can win up to $1000 in cash prizes and be recognized at a statewide red carpet award ceremony! Learn more here.

Sign up for the monthly newsletterTeaching Resilient Students and Raising Healthy Teens.” The newsletter provides mental health, substance use and suicide prevention resources for educators and parents. Subscribe here.