Celebrating Mental Health Month in May
May is Mental Health Month!
Did you know Mental Health Month began as Mental Health Week? Back in 1949, the National Mental Health Association established Mental Health Week to assist with the growing efforts to address, advocate for, and promote mental health. Within the next ten years, Mental Health Week expanded to Mental Health Month, celebrated every May. By designating an entire month to celebrate the importance of mental health, they provided a longer period for education, awareness, and outreach.
Why is Mental Health Month Important?
Raise Awareness and Educate: Through awareness, education, and conversations, we enhance our understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and our communities while fostering mutual support. Heightening awareness and knowledge is key to better recognition of conditions, signs, and symptoms, as well as the available resources to assist, support, and connect. Together we can empower each other and contribute to creating a healthier world.
Combat Stigma: Let’s confront and pop the harmful bubble that tries to exist over what mental health means. Together we can challenge the negative stereotypes that perpetuate and cause destruction of healthy conversations. These stigmas cause individuals and families to internalize shame, turn away from services, and spread misconceptions, further increasing reluctance to seek support and treatment. Together we can challenge the narratives, normalize conversations, and encourage empathy and understanding.
Promote Wellness: Mental Health Month, at its core, strives to educate about the importance of mental wellness–this includes your personal self-care. Beyond advocacy and rallies, this month encourages individuals to prioritize themselves–that means you! Take time this month to evaluate your needs, enhance your care routines, and engage with your community. Together we can encourage each other to integrate healthy routines of creativity, mindfulness, relaxation, and exercise in our lives. Prioritizing the revisitation of our personal routines of self-care cultivates resilience, balance, and healthier lifestyles. What are you doing to make sure you’re taken care of?
Advocate for Change: BING! BANG! BOOM! Thirty-one focused days of addressing and advocating for the change of systemic barriers! Mental Health Month brings together healthcare providers, policymakers, educators, community leaders, and allies. These stakeholders collaborate to continue promoting improved access to mental health services, parity in healthcare systems, and policies that support mental wellness in communities and workplaces.
Get Involved with Mental Health Month:
Wear green during the month of May! Get spicy, get creative, and incorporate your inner child–use ribbons, posters, balloons, or lights to illuminate yourself and the areas you visit most!
Check out local celebrations, seminars, and programs. Chicago also has a multitude of virtual events providing education, celebrations, and support!
Use social media to encourage others to educate, advocate, and take care of themselves–and don’t forget to use those hashtags!
Show support and reach out to your friends, family, co-workers, and community!
And celebrate!
Mental health wellness is important year-round. Remember that it is okay not to be okay and that there are services, support, and people who are available to help.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, or are supporting someone through their distress, and need to talk, text HOME to 741741 or call 988.
#MentalHealthMonth
#MayIsMentalHealthMonth
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#WellnessWarriors
#PrioritizeMentalHealth
