Throughout May, various groups across the country are raising awareness for mental health. Each year, stigma is fought, support is provided, and the public is educated. The movement continues to grow stronger every year.
Below are five ways you can support Mental Health Awareness Month 2023:
Know How to Help Someone in a Crisis
About 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. These are our friends, family members, and loved ones who may be experiencing symptoms of mental health issues that aren’t obvious or visible. Keep resources on hand, learn how to recognize the signs, and know where you would go for help if someone you care about were to experience a crisis. Here are a few resources:
Share Your Experiences
Whether it’s a story about treatment or how your life is impacted by a mental health issue, sharing your experiences can be powerful for you and others. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage you to consider sharing with someone you trust or sharing with a licensed therapist if your experiences are causing distress.
Understand the Power of Language and How It Can Contribute to Stigma
Stigma toward mental health issues and treatment often stems from the way we come to understand concepts through pop culture and influential others. Many commonly used phrases and idioms can contribute to misunderstanding and a reluctance to seek treatment for fear of being perceived as “weak” or “crazy.” Help challenge the stigma in your corner of the world by spending some time thinking and reading about how words and experiences may feel from a different perspective.
Take Care of Yourself
One of the best ways we can contribute to improved mental health, better relationships, and healthier communities is to make sure we are managing ourselves and meeting our own needs. For people who tend to help others first, this can feel selfish and difficult. However, it may be helpful to apply the same concept in which airline crews tell you to take care of your own oxygen mask before assisting others.
Join the Conversation
Throughout the month, you’ll likely see some hashtags related to Mental Health Awareness Month on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms. It’s common for some mental health organizations to organize conversations around specific hashtags, but there are also some general ones people can use to be part of the conversation. Some that will be used may include:
- #MHM2023
- #mentalhealth
- #MentalHealthAwareness
- #MentalHealthMatters
- #endthestigma
24/7 Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support to people in distress – you don’t need to be suicidal to reach out. Call 1-800-273-8255 to be connected with a crisis counselor. Crisis counselors who speak Spanish are available at 1-888-628-9454.
988 Textline: When you text 988, you will complete a short survey letting the crisis counselor know a little about your situation. You will be connected with a trained crisis counselor in a crisis center who will answer the text, provide support, and share resources if needed.
Crisis Text Line: If you prefer texting to talking on the phone, text HOME to 741-741 to be connected with a crisis counselor who will help you get through your emotions.
