Young singer and Disney star Demi Lovato lent her name and her time to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as they celebrated the eighth annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 7, 2013.
A press briefing was held on the big day at the University of the District of Columbia Community College in Washington, DC. At the briefing US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius presented Lovato with an award for her work as a mentor to young adults with mental health and substance use challenges. HHS and SAMHSA are focusing on the importance of social connectedness and a sense of community in enhancing resilience in young adults with mental health and substance use challenges.
Lovato has a personal connection to the cause, as she announced to the crowd, “I’m a survivor of mental health and substance abuse issues, and I’m not ashamed.”
After her highly-publicized struggle with bipolar disorder, drugs and alcohol the 20-year-old was stunned by the confessional letters she received from fans. She states, “There are a lot of young people out there who need to connect with someone, anyone.” She wants to encourage teens to seek help for mental health problems. Lovato is speaking out, because she says she has a responsibility to speak to a younger generation. She explains that during her own battles, “I didn’t have anyone my age to look up to.”
Awareness Day is SAMHSA’s annual observance of the importance of caring for every child’s mental health. SAMHSA is the agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
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