On Our Sleeves Advocacy Toolkit
How can you help support the movement to transform children's mental health?
We've put together an On Our Sleeves advocacy toolkit just for you. Below, find behavioral health statistics to share, sample social media posts you can use and much more.
10 Ways to Be an Advocate
Want to be an advocate for children's mental health, but you're not sure how? Gina, our On Our Sleeves YouTube channel host, and behavioral health expert at Nationwide Children's Hospital, has 10 ways you can accomplish your advocacy goals.
Advocating for children's mental health is not just for parents and caregivers. Here are some additional things you can do:
- Be a mentor and a role model, acknowledge and show interest in kids around you.
- Help make your neighborhood safe, look out for others.
- Acknowledge and show interest in kids around you.
- Support family and child promoting policy at your work and in the community.
- Be an advocate for kids!
Share the Facts. Let Others be Heard.
The behavioral health experts at On Our Sleeves have compiled guidelines and infographics for use in your advocacy of mental health issues among youths. Feel free to download and share these on your social media, in your newsletters, on your handouts and more. Have questions on where else you can use them? Email us at info@onoursleeves.org and we'd be happy to help!
50% of all lifetime mental illnesses start by age 14*
*National Institute of Mental Health
1 in 5 children has a significantly impairing mental disorder; yet less than half get the treatment they need*
*National Institute of Mental Health
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among persons aged 15 to 25*
*Center for Disease Control and Prevention
One child psychiatrist is available for every 15,000 youths under 18*
*National Institute of Mental Health
Suicide rates in youth... "Basically, it's 9/11 happening every 18 months."
- John Ackerman, PhD, Center for Suicide Prevention & Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital
49% of kids in grades 4-12 have been bullied at least once in the last month.
Talking About Mental Health
Need some help crafting your advocacy messages for your social media channels? Get Gina's expert advice on Do's and Don'ts when talking about mental health.
It can be hard to know the right thing to say when talking about mental illness. Learn about words you should avoid and how to use the correct language to help break stigmas.
Share the Movement. Create Your Own.
Share an image. Tell others how you're advocating. On Our Sleeves has free digital images just for you to do so.
Giphy Stickers
On your Instagram stories, incorporate On Our Sleeves into your advocacy with our giphy stickers. Created along with our icon collection, you can share your "thoughts" or the #OnOurSleeves hashtag on your story. Don't forget to tag our account, @onoursleevesofficial, so we can re-share your advocacy!
Facebook Cover
Update your Facebook cover photo with your support of On Our Sleeves. Save the image below to upload to Facebook.
Facebook Posts
Use these images to start conversations about children's mental health with your Facebook friends and followers. Don't forget to tag our Facebook page and use #OnOurSleeves so we can add you to our On Our Sleeves gallery!
Twitter Posts
Use these images to encourage others to break stigmas and join the movement on Twitter. Don't forget to tag our Twitter account (@onoursleeves) and use #OnOurSleeves so we an add you to the On Our Sleeves gallery!
Share Your Vote
The one thing the On Our Sleeves community has in common is our dedication to best health outcomes for kids.
Every day, you can join us by visually displaying your support for the children in our lives.
Tap or click to save this image and share as your social profile picture, or click one of the links below to share with your message.