(Madera, Calif.) – In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, Valley Children’s Hospital hosted a chalk art event in partnership with Fresno State volunteers on Sunday, May 1.
To kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, Valley Children’s staff and Fresno State students created encouraging and inspiring art messages focused on mental wellness on the hospital’s South Lawn promenade for families and staff to enjoy when walking around the playground area.
The “Let’s Chalk about Mental Health” chalk art installation is just one part of Valley Children’s mental health efforts planned for the month of May. Throughout the month, Valley Children’s will share information on social media, highlighting the message that “mental health is health.” This includes Mental Health Minute activities to encourage parents and families to focus on their emotional well-being. Every Tuesday in May, Valley Children’s will share a 60-second activity on social media platforms to help families incorporate mindfulness within their daily routine. Valley Children’s At the Heart blog will also publish posts focusing on various topics relating to mental health.
On Monday, May 9, from noon to 1 p.m., Valley Children’s will host a Facebook Live event, featuring Dr. Carmela Sosa, complex care pediatrician and medical director of Valley Children's Primary Care Group and the Guilds Center for Community Health, and social worker Amy Hardcastle. They will lead a discussion on social media’s role in a child’s mental health and also answer viewer questions.
These events and activities are all part of Valley Children’s 360me initiative, which helps families, schools and communities safeguard our children’s physical and mental health. The 360me website is equipped with resources to help recognize and understand the many connections between mental and physical wellness and to reduce the stigma society incorrectly associates with mental health.
Photos from the "Let's Chalk about Mental Health" art event, including a bird's eye view of the artwork on Valley Children's Hospital's South Lawn promenade