Every year, millions of Americans are affected by mental health issues one way or another. While you might not be struggling with your mental health, it’s highly likely your family member, friend, or someone you know is living with mental illness. In May, the entire nation comes together to raise awareness about mental health. Each year, efforts are directed towards fighting stigma, providing support, educating the public, and advocating for policies that support individuals with mental illness and their families.
The nation also observes a mental health awareness week in the month of October. Established in 1990, the mental health awareness week also seeks to increase awareness about mental illness.
History of Mental Health Month
In 1949, May was set apart as mental health month. During this month, it was agreed that resources and efforts would be channeled towards raising awareness of the trauma and effects of mental health illnesses.
Mental health doesn’t only affect the mind. It also touches on various aspects of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. During this month, professionals teach people how to prevent or deal with mental illnesses. Individuals learn that they can recover fully from mental illnesses and continue to live full and productive lives.
In the past two decades, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and other organizations in America have dedicated a lot of time and resources to ensure that the public has a complete understanding of the importance of mental health awareness. Advocates direct efforts towards understanding both prevention and treatment of mental health problems that affect millions of people yearly. There has been a significant improvement in the prognosis of those suffering from mental illnesses through these efforts.
Past Achievements in Raising Mental Health Awareness
Advocates have made many strides when it comes to raising awareness about mental health issues impacting societies. Professionals answer many stigmatizing questions, and people are increasingly becoming more aware. For instance, nowadays, a simple search for the question, “when is depression awareness month?” will give you the detailed information. Read on to find out what other achievements we have made so far.
Mental Health Services Block Grant
The idea behind this grant is to ensure that the funds allow the states to be financially equipped to carry out state plans to provide adequate and effective community-based mental health services.
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
This act does away with the practice of unequal health treatment. It also ensures that everyone can get unobstructed access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services. All of this is made possible by more equitable insurance coverage.
The Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Program
This program acts as a bridge between the government and non-governmental organizations to consolidate efforts to develop youth suicide prevention programs. It also seeks to promote early intervention plans among institutions that serve the youth. These include the following:
- Schools
- Juvenile detention centers
- Drug abuse programs
- Mental health programs
- Foster care systems
How to Get Involved
There are several ways to participate in the mental health awareness movement actively. During mental health month or mental health awareness week, it’s imperative to speak out and share why you’re fighting. There are also many mental health awareness month activities that you can plan with your friends, family, and coworkers.
If you have a blog, you can provide answers to questions like, “when is depression awareness month?” There are many other things that people want to know about mental health.
You can also use social media or have conversations with your friends about the importance of mental health awareness. Make it a point to tell your friends, coworkers, and family why you are joining the fight for mental health. This way, you can inspire others and help create a movement for change and develop their own mental health awareness month activities.
Points to Include in Mental Health Wellness Campaigns
When doing your campaigns that support the mental health month, it’s important to include mental health facts and figures. This enables the public to have a better understanding of the overall mental health picture in the country. Below are some facts that you can use to educate people about mental health issues:
- 20% of all adults in the United States experience mental issues each year.
- One in every six individuals between the ages of six and seventeen experiences a mental health disorder each year
- Half of all lifetime mental illnesses commence by age 14, and 75% by the time someone is 24 years old.
- For individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, suicide is the second most common cause of death.
You can also answer questions about specific conditions. For instance, many people suffer from depression and might want to know the answer to, “when is depression awareness month?”
Come up With Engaging Social Media Posts
Apart from participating in mental health awareness month activities, you can develop your own social media post during mental health month. Participation will greatly support the move to educate people on the challenges of mental illnesses and what people can do to improve the current situation. Below are some examples that tips can use:
Twitter
- On Twitter, it’s important to ensure that you include the hashtag #MentalHealthMonth! in your posts. You can also include pictures to display how you take care of your mental health. You can also do this during mental health awareness week.
- You can make a post about what you promise to do in the current mental health month. For instance, you can use the hashtag #ThisMentalHealth, then write the following, “this mental health month I will try to…”
- You can also write something like, “Have you ever thought about setting apart a mental health day?. Let’s celebrate #MentalHealthMonth together.”
Twitter has a limit on the word count for posts, so you will want to keep your messages short.
Facebook
With Facebook, you can come up with longer posts as the word count is almost unlimited. You can start making your posts a few weeks before the actual month and throughout the month as well. Make sure your posts encourage people not to underestimate the importance of mental health awareness.
Also, your posts can include questions about what makes people happy. People must make their happiness a priority as well during mental health months.
It’s also a good idea to include images about how you feel in your social media posts. You can also include information about the importance of mental health awareness and tips about managing your mental health. For instance, post a picture of you enjoying your coffee on a sunny morning.
With all your posts, don’t forget to include the hashtag #MentalHealthMonth!
Social media is a powerful tool that can enable you to reach out to millions of people. Individuals and organizations could use social media as an effective tool for spreading mental health awareness. Companies can even task their employees to develop mental health tool kits as part of mental health awareness month activities.
In the toolkit, you can include materials about:
- How to deal with trauma and stress
- How to handle anger and frustration
- Getting out of thinking traps
- How to process big changes
- Effective ways to create time for yourself
- Radical acceptance
- Answers to questions like, “when is depression awareness month?’
Make Donations Towards Mental Health Month
You can help lead the fight for mental health by making donations. That way, you will support people dealing with mental health problems and those who are helping to fight the illnesses.
Even if you or your family members are not directly affected, it’s helpful to make a difference in the community. There are many people on waiting lists for medical attention. Your donation can help to improve the quality of healthcare available for those suffering from mental health issues.
Mental Health Month gives everyone a chance to contribute towards mental health awareness. It is also a time for celebrating the huge milestones that we have all achieved in promoting mental health and boosting the public’s knowledge about available services and support.
Don’t be left out this mental health month. Tell us what you liked most about this blog post by leaving a comment below. You can also share your experience with us and contribute ideas about how this mental health month can be more impactful.
For those who want a notification each time there is a new post, subscribe to our blog. If you are suffering from a mental health issue and haven’t received care, please contact us. We are experts and have helped a lot of people with mental health issues over the years.
https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/mental-health-month/
https://youth.gov/feature-article/may-national-mental-health-month
https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-illness-awareness-week