4 Ways To Bring Awareness For Mental Health Awareness Month 

Mental Health Awareness Month began in 1949 by Mental Health America, also known as the National Association for Mental Health, with its primary goal to educate the public and reduce stigma. Since then, mental health has gained more traction and momentum over the past decade. 

Employers and policymakers have made mental health a top priority, and thanks to Millennials and Gen Z, global awareness has catapulted. If you’re looking for ways to further elevate mental health awareness month today and beyond, here are a few ways to start.

The best way to spread awareness and learn more about mental health is by getting informed. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers resources for mental health, substance abuse, as well as community help and betterment. 

The CDC shares that if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, confidential, free, 24/7/365 help is available.

• Call or text 988
• Chat at 988lifeline.org
• TTY users can use their preferred relay service or dial 711, then 988

Note: The 988 line automatically routes calls by your phone’s area code to the nearest crisis center.

The negative connotations about mental health are usually due to a lack of knowledge and understanding. The best way to combat the stigma is to do your part, whether you are a person living with a mental illness or in support of one.

According to Psychiatry, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers some suggestions about what we can do as individuals to help reduce the stigma of mental illness:

• Talk openly about mental health, such as sharing on social media.
• Educate yourself and others – respond to misperceptions or negative comments by sharing facts and experiences.
• Be conscious of language – remind people that words matter.
• Encourage equality between physical and mental illness – draw comparisons to how they would treat someone with cancer or diabetes.
• Show compassion for those with mental illness.
• Be honest about treatment – normalize mental health treatment, just like other health care treatment.
• Let the media know when they are using stigmatizing language to present stories of mental illness in a stigmatizing way.
• Choose empowerment over shame – “I fight stigma by choosing to live an empowered life. To me, that means owning my life and my story and refusing to allow others to dictate how I view myself or how I feel about myself.” – Val Fletcher.

Light up green is a popular thing that has been observed for over 75 years in May, where buildings and structures are lit up green in support of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Furthermore, wearing green may be the easiest way to support Mental Health Awareness Month. The green ribbon is the official symbol for Mental Health Month, which is a symbol and representation of strength, love, hope, and full support for people living with mental illnesses. 

Join NAMIWalks And Other Organizations

According to NAMI, NAMIWalks is more than a walk; it’s a movement – a celebration of individuals, families, and communities coming together for one powerful purpose: Mental Health for All.

Mental Health America (MHA): A community-based non-profit dedicated to promoting mental wellness and providing resources, including online screening tools. 

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): Dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education, and advocacy. 

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).