May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the month of May in the United States since 1949. The month is observed with media, local events, and film screenings. Started by the Mental Health America organization, Mental Health Awareness month draws attention to the millions of Americans living with a mental illness. Each year, they help to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families.
MHA’s 2023 Mental Health Month campaign is focused on how surroundings impact mental health, and we are calling for individuals to look around, look within.
Among the topics being addressed are:
- Safe and Stable Housing
- Healthy Home Environments
- Neighborhoods and Towns
- The Outdoors and Nature
We encourage you to download their toolkit to help people understand how these topics impact mental health, provide tips for actions people can take to change their surroundings in favor of their well-being, and suggestions for how to cope if change isn’t realistic.
MHA’s May is Mental Health Month Outreach Toolkit has been created to help individuals and organizations work smart as they plan for raising mental health awareness during the month of May. It includes potential activities that you can do, written newsletter articles, created social media images and post language, come up with email signatures and zoom backgrounds, and made fact sheets, worksheets, posters, a tip calendar, and more for you to share.
