5 Ways to Honor Mental Health Awareness Month
photo credit - Emily Underworld via unsplash
Mental health has become a focal point of discussion in recent years. Many people, despite this, are still struggling with depression, anxiety, and confusing situations that have them feeling lost. Whether you are dealing with loss, burnout, or triggering situations related to past trauma, mental health struggles can debilitate us, effecting our daily lives. Even though mental health is more talked about, there is still a stigma surrounding it.
That’s why Mental Health Awareness Month exists.
Every May, people check in with themselves and those they care about to normalize the roller coaster of emotions and mental health struggles that we all face; making us better friends, partners and family members.
So, what is Mental Health Awareness Month and when is it?
In the United States, the month of May marks Mental Health Awareness Month. Since 1949, Mental Health America has strived to bring visibility to mental health struggles. Organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) have joined in the efforts making them a nationwide focal point.
Every year, a new theme is presented, shaping the conversation and the month’s message. This leads to conversations being had in communities, schools, and workplaces. The theme for 2025 is Turn Awareness Into Action. This is a nationwide call to action for everyone to do what they can to improve their own mental health or take part in a bigger movement.
Why is Mental Health Awareness Month a Thing?
The purpose of MHAM is to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health struggles, promote access to care and remind us all that our mental health is essential in leading healthy lives.
The goal for MHAM is to make the subject of mental health less stigmatized and spark conversations about it. It also has the goal of educating empathizing and taking action to improve community resources. This might look like learning how depression effects our bodies and daily lives, advocating for a stigmatized part of the community affected by serious mental illness, or having an honest conversation with a loved one about your, or their mental health. In any case the end goal is connection and letting people know that they are never truly alone.
So, How Can I Do My Part?
There are so many things that we can do to improve our own mental health as well as connect with others and get them the help they need. Whether you knock them all out in a day or spread them out over the course of a week; here are 5 ways that you can improve yours and others mental health.
Start With An Honest Check In - Check in with yourself and someone you care about. Really take the time to notice your own feelings and listen to those you care about tell you about how they feel. Pause, reflect and listen to your body. Don’t try to “fix it” or be judgmental, just bring it to your own or someone you are close to’s attention.
Share a Resource - If you’re active on social media, share a hotline number, a podcast link, or a quote that helped you. But try to avoid being preachy. Let it be an offering and not a mandate. Consider sharing this website, I would be thrilled to meet with anyone ready to begin counseling.
Create a “Calm Kit”, to Help With the Bad Days – Put a kit together with things like a written playlist of music that calms you down, a memento that has good memories attached to it, or a list of trusted people you can call to talk to.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Saying “Me Too” – When someone close to you confides in you that they are struggling, try to resist fixing the issue. Instead (and if it is true), start with “Me too” or “I know how you feel”. Empathy can be a lot more powerful than advice.
Use Your Voice to Make a Change – Advocate for change in your community by signing petitions that support mental health issues, vote for leaders that promote mental wellbeing surrounding issues that you care about, and learn about issues you are unfamiliar with so that you can be a better help to someone you care about.
May is a month that we should all take a moment to challenge our views on mental health. Whether we agree or not on various topics, one thing is for certain; we all struggle with mental health at some point in our lives. If you or someone you know is struggling and feel like there is nobody that will listen or cares, reach out…