Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health is an important part of our wellbeing involving emotional, behavioral, and social wellness. Poor mental health negatively impacts the way children interact with others, handle stress, and manage their emotions. 
According to the CDC, ADHD, anxiety problems, behavior problems, and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children. Estimates for ever having a diagnosis among children aged 3-17 years, in 2016-19, are given below.
  • ADHD 9.8% (approximately 6.0 million)
    • Anxiety 9.4% (approximately 5.8 million)
    • Behavior problems 8.9% (approximately 5.5 million)
    • Depression 4.4% (approximately 2.7 million)
It's important for schools and families to work through mental health issues with children so they can learn how to manage and improve. We care about the New Kent community and want to be part of supportive solutions for our students. 

Youth Mental Health Survey

It's important to speak to a trusted adult or doctor about any health issues you have. The test linked here can give you an idea of things to consider when thinking about your mental health, and how to talk about your feelings others. It is simple and doesn't require you to share personal information, but gives you an idea of factors to be aware of as you think about your mental health. 

Books in our Library

Whether or not you are directly affected by mental health issues, we all encounter those who are. The library has many books that address a variety of mental health issues; and, reading allows us to to understand ourselves and others better. The books below are some that can help you empathize with others, or realize you aren't alone in your mental health journey. Come in to check out these, and more. (click each book for a review)

Social Media and Youth Mental Health
The evidence remains unconvincing.

Oh Hey!

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Hi there! I'm Mrs. Mordica, the friendly NKMS librarian. If you have a question, suggestion, or just want to say "hey," email me :)
Literary Awards and Booklists
If you are interested in reading books selected by experts in the fields of children’s and young adult literature for their high literary quality, you might want to look at the archives for major national literary awards.
  • The Newbery Medal has, since 1922, been given annually to “the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” Generally, two to four Honor books are also named.
  • The Printz Award is a newer award that is essentially the Newbery for YA literature. It is given annually to “the best book for teens, based entirely on its literary merit.” Honor books are also named.
  • The Morris Award honors and celebrates debut authors in YA literature. Up to five finalists are named annually, with one winner announced in January. The award goes to the book that “illuminate[s] the teen experience and enrich[es] the lives of its readers through its excellence.”
  • The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award is given to books in three categories for “high quality and creative excellence.” Up to two Honor books in each category can be named as well. The winners go on to headline a day-long symposium for editors, writers, and scholars of children’s and young adult literature.
  • The National Book Award for Young People’s Literature is selected by a committee of five, comprising authors, librarians, critics, and booksellers. A ten-book longlist is selected, and a five-book shortlist and single winner are announced later.
  • The Alex Award is given yearly by the Young Adult Library Services Association. It selects ten books written and published for adults that are of particular interest or appeal to teens.
Many of the organizations that sponsor these awards also sponsor others, including special ones for non-fiction, audiobooks, graphic novels, and books by or about minority groups or social justice issues. Clicking on the links will also allow you to search their websites for other prestigious awards.

Our Mission

The NKMS library engages with the New Kent community training confident researchers, critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, and ethical participants in the contemporary information landscape; we provide quality resources for both academic and personal endeavors while collaborating with faculty members and the New Kent community to enhance instruction.