Well, here we’re again – it’s the month of mental health awareness! Although I feel like I say it every year, mental health is more important than ever. Whether it is our own mental health or the support of others, there is a great deal of awareness of the growth and stories to share. So, as I do for most years, I want to point out some campaigns that will follow during the month of mental health awareness. Hopefully they will resonate with you or someone you know. Regardless of how you participate, I hope this month is useful to learn more about your own mental health or mental health in general.
Mental Health America – “Turn awareness into action”
Mental Health America is the organization that established the month of mental health awareness in 1949. Since then, they have done a stunning work that highlights different aspects of mental health. This year, their issue is ‘Turn awareness into action’, that I love. The subject was chosen with a target (per wikipedia):
“Celebrating the progress we have made to recognize the importance of mental health – and I challenge us to turn understanding into important steps towards change.”
If I have said it once, I have said it a million times: awareness is important, but it is only the first step when it comes to mental health. Converting awareness to action is a catchy label, but it is more difficult than it sounds. You have to overcome so many challenges to get from raising awareness to action – things such as bias, stigma, your own struggles, understanding the challenges … The list continues. Underlining how we can take significant steps, MHA leads the change with action – a reason we can all get back.
National alliance for mental illness – “In every story there is force”
Since you are reading a mental health blog, this will not shock you to read, but I still have to say: I love this. I always believed that each of us has a story when it comes to mental health and every story matters. I’m glad to see Nami agrees! By their website:
“In every story, there is power,” he emphasizes the durability and a variety of experiences that shape mental health travel within our community. Nami’s campaign celebrates the power of narrative in connection, understanding and hope for those who navigate their own mental health course.
The sharing of our stories is brave. It’s important. The issues. There are no trivial stories about mental health. You never know what the story of your story will mean to someone, what could teach them about mental health or themselves. There is power and power to talk about mental health and the more we do it, the more we shrink the stigma and bring the debate to the forefront.
Samhsa – Mental Health Awareness Month Tool
What I like this samhsa (the substance abuse and mental health service) does during the month of mental health awareness their tool! This tool that gives you everything you need to know and has vital information and resources on mental health. Basic messages, content and support messages only a few of the things inside, providing everything you need to increase your voice this month! Samhsa’s work highlights an important relationship between substances and mental health challenges. This connection is often ignored or misunderstood and the one we all need to pay more attention.
What can you do during the month of mental health awareness
I will not pretend to be an easy time to talk about raising mental health at the moment. Things change faster than we can react to them and are continuous. Everyone is just trying to stay in their lives and do things like raising awareness and discussion of harsh things may not be ideal for you right now. That’s okay! Another good thing that brings this month is an opportunity to check. As I wrote this time last year:
“Whether we recognize it or not, our mental health affects us all. Mental health awareness month is the time to shine a projector in this fact, to learn to live in a happy and healthy way.
And as always, this is the main takeaway. I send positive thoughts and vibes to my readers as we continue to shrink the stigma and raise awareness of the subject of mental health.
What will you do to raise awareness during the month of mental health awareness? I would love to hear that! Let me know in the comments.
