May is National Mental Health Awareness Month

What’s the story

• Each May is dedicated to National Mental Health Awareness Month, raising awareness of the importance of mental health toward overall wellbeing. This month calls attention to the need to fight the stigma around mental health, provide support and health resources, and educate the public on the causes and impacts of mental health struggles. 

Recent news and important facts

• President Joe Biden released a proclamation recognizing National Mental Health Awareness Month this year, highlighting the COVID-19 pandemic’s role in exacerbating mental health issues.
• According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 Americans lives with a mental health condition, meaning you likely know someone who is impacted by a mental health illness. Worldwide, 450 million people have a mental illness, representing 1 in 4 people. 
• One in 20 Americans lives with serious mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or long-term recurring major depression. 
• Mental health stigma, prejudice, and discrimination often lead people to delay or avoid seeking treatment. The American Psychiatry Association reports that more than half of people with mental illness do not receive help for their disorders. Despite the efforts made by the government, 10.3 percent of adults with mental illnesses are uninsured, making treatment inaccessible.
• Mental health stigma and other persisting barriers to access affect everyone. Studies have found that men are less likely to seek mental health treatment and are more likely to die by suicide. Women report higher rates of depression, some eating disorders, and are more likely than men to attempt suicide. Disparities in treatment also vary by race, with people of color less likely to seek out or have access to mental health services than white people. And youth in America are facing a mental health crisis. No matter who you are, mental health matters.

Ways to Take Action

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please seek immediate help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is free, confidential, and open 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also chat online with their Lifeline Crisis Chat here. 

Take care of yourself

• It starts with you. Practice self care, incorporate a mental health app into your daily routine or implement some other ways to improve your mental health, and check in with yourself and your loved ones.
• You don’t need to be actively resolving a mental health issue to go to therapy. Read this article to see if you could benefit from mental health counseling.
• Not sure where to start? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control provides resources here for how you or someone you want to help can connect with trained mental health professionals. The National Institute of Mental Health (NAMI) also has resources, including how to find a health care provider or treatment, and ways to learn more about mental disorders. The New York Times also recently published an article with tips and tricks for finding a therapist who is a good fit.

Donate or Volunteer

• The National Alliance for Mental Illness has many ways you can get involved and take action to help improve mental health in your community, including hosting a fundraiser, participating in awareness events, and sharing your story. 
• So many volunteer opportunities are essential to helping with your community’s well being, including mental health. Volunteering at a nursing home, helping to clean a local park, or donating money to a mental health charity can all help. For a more direct volunteer opportunity, learn more about how to become a Crisis Counselor for crisis text lines.

-Jamie Epstein and Casey Dawson