Jamie Lee Curtis, SAMHSA at D.C. Event to Pay Tribute to Youth who have Demonstrated Resilience and Overcome Trauma

Curtis to be joined by HHS Secretary, Chairman of National Endowment for the Arts and other dignitaries at May 3 tribute event

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Golden Globe award-winning actress and New York Times bestselling children's book author Jamie Lee Curtis will celebrate the sixth annual National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day at the "Building Resilience in Young Children Dealing with Trauma" program on May 3 in Washington, D.C. Awareness Day is an annual observance of the importance of caring for every child's mental health sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). More than 100 public and private organizations and over 1,000 communities across the country will participate in local events and activities in celebration of Awareness Day.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman will present Curtis with an award for her work on behalf of children and together with SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. and Commissioner for the Administration on Children, Youth and Families Bryan Samuels they will honor the youth from across the country, as well as families, providers, and the community members who help them.

Emmy award-winning journalist Byron Pitts from "CBS Evening News" and CBS' "60 Minutes" will emcee the tribute event. The program will feature stories of trauma and resilience from youth across the country, as well as live performances by Arcadian Broad from "America's Got Talent" and students and alumni from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. An exhibit sponsored by the American Art Therapy Association will be featured at the event with a unique collection of artwork, which includes pieces submitted by children directly impacted by 9/11, "The Art of Sybil" by Shirley Ardell Mason, children from the Lombardi Cancer Center, and art from The Glass Books Project in conjunction with Witness Justice.

For more information about Awareness Day and to view the list of collaborating organizations, visit http://www.samhsa.gov/children/.

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SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

SOURCE Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)