Every May is Mental Health Awareness Month – an opportunity to have open, honest conversations about mental health. Mental illness is more common than you think – one in five adults in the United States experience mental illness, and one in 20 adults have a serious mental illness. Beyond Americans, almost one billion people are affected worldwide.
There is still a long way to go with raising awareness and getting people the help they need. This month serves as a reminder to be kind to our minds and to recognize the role that mental health plays in our overall well-being.
History of Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month dates back to 1949, when the first Mental Health Week was held, which later evolved into Mental Health Awareness Month.
The organization Mental Health America started this initiative, but back then, it was called the “National Committee for Mental Hygiene.” Believe it or not, this society was founded in 1908, a time when mental illness was still highly stigmatized and barely talked about openly or publicly.
We can thank a man named Clifford W. Beers for starting this movement. Beers went through a lot of personal struggles with mental illness. He experienced bipolar disorder and was put in various hospitals in Connecticut, where he witnessed how horrifically people with mental illness were treated, even by hospital staff whose role it was to help.
In 1908, he published an autobiography exposing all of this, and the following year, he founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene alongside a psychiatrist named Adolf Meyer and a philosopher named William James.
From there, the organization evolved and made some amazing advances and accomplishments, including:
- Getting involved with the Commission on Mental Illness and Mental Health, established by the U.S. Congress.
- Helping Congress pass the “Community Mental Health Centers Act.”
- Getting mental health services included in Medicare.
- Helping the National Institute of Mental Health get funding.
- And much more!
Significance of Mental Health Awareness
Although we’ve come a long way since Clifford W. Beers’s says, there’s always room for more mental health advocacy. Here are some reasons why the observance of Mental Health Awareness Month is so important.
Awareness and Destigmatization
Stigmas still linger around mental health, which can discourage people from opening up and getting the help they need. By raising awareness and breaking stigmas, we empower people of all backgrounds to feel comfortable discussing their mental health. This helps us build a culture where seeking help isn’t seen as a weakness – it’s seen as a sign of strength, self-care, and healing. Folks of all ages need to work towards breaking the stigma. Young people and older adults alike can make a difference in their communities.
Every conversation surrounding mental health, whether big or small, has the power to create a ripple effect and contribute towards a larger shift in society. You never know who’s suffering in silence or who you can help by simply starting a conversation.
Education and Outreach
Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month, communities hold events, campaigns, fundraisers, and informational sessions to help educate the masses and build public understanding.
Here are some examples of events you can get involved with:
- NAMIWalks: These are fundraising walks hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), held in cities throughout the country throughout the month. Find your local walk here.
- SAMHSA-endorsed webinars: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is promoting various webinars on topics ranging from eating disorders to racial stress and trauma. Check them out here.
- Local organization events: Check with your city hall, local charities, universities, hospitals, or community centers to see what events they’re hosting in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. You can also look for events that cater to specific demographics, such as LGBTQ or youth mental health.
Policy and Advocacy
Advocacy during Mental Health Awareness Month (and the whole year) has led to better funding for mental health services, new laws protecting the rights of people with mental health conditions, and the integration of mental health initiatives into schools and workplace safety programs. For example, the government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now puts out guidelines and advice for employers to be supportive of employees with mental health needs and conditions. Another example of a policy passed due to advocates’ dedication is the Mental Health Parity Act, which requires insurance companies to cover not just physical health care but also mental health care.
Most recently, a policy change led to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020. This act made the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline possible. It’s now quicker than ever to get help in a mental health emergency – simply dial 988 to get connected to a crisis counselor with the helpline. This is a big deal and a step in the right direction for the country’s suicide prevention efforts.
Overall, the observance of Mental Health Awareness Month keeps mental health a priority on the public policy agenda, supports ongoing dialogues on difficult topics, and pushes for a more effective, accessible mental health care system.
How Therapy Can Help During Mental Health Awareness Month
Therapy is extremely beneficial during Mental Health Awareness Month and all year round. Whether you’re dealing with an anxiety disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or any other mental health condition, therapy gives you a safe space to explore your feelings and move toward healing.
“Mental health awareness is so important because we all have feelings, and people just feel their feelings in different ways,” says Judith Armstrong, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with Grow Therapy. “Paying attention to your mental health and finding ways to better cope in therapy can make a huge difference for people.”
There are so many reasons people seek therapy – including relationship struggles, anxiety, substance use disorders, ADHD, depression, self-esteem struggles, the list goes on. Unfortunately, Armstrong says a major reason why people don’t seek out therapy is because of the stigma surrounding it, whether that stigma is coming from society or even from their family members who aren’t educated on mental health.
If your quality of life and day-to-day functioning are taking a hit because of your mental health issues, don’t ignore signs that you could benefit from therapy. Therapy can help you recover from trauma, learn coping skills, regulate your emotions, have healthier relationships, build a better self-image, and more.
Mental health awareness is so important because we all have feelings, and people just feel their feelings in different ways.
- Judith Armstrong, PMHNP
Not to mention, the rise of telemedicine post-pandemic has transformed access to mental health care, making all different types of therapists easily accessible to people, such as those who live in “medical deserts,” like rural areas where there might not be any in-person mental or behavioral health providers.
If you’re looking for further reading on Mental Health Awareness Month, we recommend checking out SAMHSA, Mental Health America, and NAMI for more information on getting involved and how to talk about mental health this month and beyond. Mental Health America and NAMI each have a toolkit available to download to help you this month.
If you’re looking for a mental health professional, consider a provider with Grow Therapy. There’s no better time than Mental Health Awareness month to finally get help and take control of your own well-being. Grow Therapy can connect you with therapists in your area or online who meet all of your needs and accept your insurance.
