(Radio Iowa) – Iowa is seeing more young children in crisis, so the state is launching a new ad campaign which aims to bring awareness to children’s mental health. The campaign starts this month and will run on social media and traditional media platforms, targeting both kids and adults. The ads urge kids who are struggling to seek help. “So, if you’ve been thinking about suicide, talk to a friend, talk to a parent…”

The ads also urge adults to reach out to kids who seem down. Iowa Department of Human Services Director Kelly Garcia says the state is trying to provide direction and resources to parents who may not know how to address mental health with their children.”Because there are spaces in parenthood that you’re not really given those clear toolkits,” Garcia says, “and so this is something that we wanted to provide. So it’s really practical conversation starters.”

Garcia says the state is launching the campaign as it’s been seeing an increase in younger children experiencing mental health crises. “We’re seeing really small children in distress – crisis – mobile crisis response and crisis stabilization utilization for really little kids,” Garcia says, “and we’re seeing really young children attempt and complete suicide, which is horrifying.”

Iowans who need help can find resources at YourLifeIowa.org.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)