Mental Health Awareness Month | All You Need To Know

As May makes its way around the corner, we enter Mental Health Awareness month!

According to a study in 2018, 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness, 1 in 25 experience severe mental illness, and 17% of youth from ages 13–18 also encounter a mental health disorder. [1] On average, millions of people that make up the US population encounter a mental health disorder. We have professionals to thank for making this month a celebratory event that brings global awareness to the vast disorders that have affected generations.

Since COVID-19 established itself in the US in March, there’s a historic spur of mental-health issues that Federal agencies and experts anticipate: depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll was conducted in the latter of March, nearly half of the US population says that the Coronavirus is affecting their mental health.

Mental Health professionals say that having some anxiety during this time is normal; however, Talkspace’s CEO, Oren Frank, states that government officials simply have no plan during this time. Frank goes on to say that the rising demand for services “follows almost exactly the geographic march of the virus across the United States.” [2] Experts say that far as COVID-19 goes, there’s an ample amount of testing for the virus, but as for mental health, we need to be screening people just as much as testing to prevent an increase in suicidal rates.

We are now facing month three of the virus, and as we continue to cope, it’s essential we know how to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month — quarantine style.

Here is everything you need to know about Mental Health Awareness Month. Provided are some resources that show you how to get involved, where you can stay informed, and how to participate in ways that don’t require leaving your home!

How To Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month

The events are endless for staying at home and participating in the nationally recognized celebration. From purchasing tee-shirts to hashtagging, to being involved in watch parties — the list goes on. Here are a few places online that you can participate in from your home.

#NotAlone Campaign

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, also widely known as NAMI has released its 2020 campaign! Each year, they combat the mental illness stigma and raise awareness to support and educate those that struggle or know someone that struggles with a mental illness.

This year’s campaign is “You Are Not Alone.”

NAMI runs this campaign slogan with the tagline “Now more than ever before, it is important for the mental health community to come together and show the world that no one should ever feel alone.”[3]

NAMI has released several graphics and messages that are easily accessible to share with your community.

Share your story by posting a picture on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. When your post is ready to be released into the wild, go ahead and hit that #NotAlone and start spreading awareness.

You can also share your story on NAMI’s website for publication!

Watch Party / Weekly Event

Crafton Hills College, located in southern California, is hosting a watch party on May 15th, 2020, to show movies on Mental Health.

Registration is required to attend the online watch party, but don’t worry; it’s free.

But the fun doesn’t end there —

The Pasadena Mental Health Advisory Committee has put together a project to start hosting Mental Health Mondays.

An event online that increases awareness and informs participants about the roles of mental health during the current crisis as well as oncoming challenges we face every day.

The event is 5:00–6:00 PDT, and you can register for free here.

Mental Health Awareness Color

There’s a ribbon for every cause, so here’s everything you need to know about what color the mental health ribbon is, what it represents, and where you can get one yourself. Or maybe, you just want a t-shirt — that’s here, too.

Where to find the Green Ribbon

The lime green ribbon represents mental Health Awareness Month!

In the 1800s, those that were affected by mental illness were tagged with the color lime green. [4]

If you’re looking to support the cause this month — An organization called Personalized Cause offers different types of lime green awareness ribbons and wristbands to choose from that you can find here.

Lime green may not be your color, and that’s okay, too.

An online commerce store on Germe sells $15 tee-shirts that say “mental health is just as important as physical health.”

I started to see a lot of these in a Facebook ad last year, and they were incredibly gender-neutral and well designed!

They also sell mugs with the same logo on it with the option to choose different colors at check out.

Whether you’re considering participating in events or you’d like to support in some other way, there’s something out there for everyone to play a part in this month.

Mental Health Awareness Services

There are several sources available at your fingertips to start when it comes to navigating mental illness. There are resources such as crisis hotlines, apps that are free to download at the iTunes store or google play store, and online support groups that are hosted via online Zoom conference.

Vibrant Emotional Health

Vibrant Emotional Health is an organization located in NYC that has helped 250,000,000 people get help and access to the resources and the support that they need. They offer free confidential support, crisis intervention, and information and referral service for anyone seeking help for mental health and substance misuse concerns.

Vibrant operates similarly to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline does. You can give them a call at 1–888–692–9355, send a text message to them using WELL to 65173, or you can use the chatbox online to be connected to NYC-Well counselor.

Headspace

Headspace is an app available to download for free in your iTunes or google play store. Headspace uses meditation/mindfulness practices that help to alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, and even help with sleeping schedules. As of right now, they are offering free support during the COVID-19 crisis.

Turn2Me

Turn2Me ranked number one on Very Well Mind’s the list of 7 Best Online Anxiety Support Groups of 2020. [5]

They offer completely free online support groups, but they do require booking before your session.

Support Groups provided on Turn2Me range from anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies, to stress management and general wellness. This service offers a group for most everyone.

Wrapping Up Mental Health Awareness Month

Bringing awareness to the matter, staying safe, and taking care of your mental well being during this time is incredibly important. Statistics have shown that as unemployment rates rise, there’s also a continued uprise in suicide rates.

From taking that information, experts suggest that if unemployment amidst the coronavirus pandemic rises five percentage points, similar to the Great Recession, we can expect an additional 4,000 deaths by suicide. [6]

My heart yearns for those who are affected by mental illnesses. Mental illness doesn’t discriminate against economic status, race, or age — it is a psychological and genetic component we are all trying to fight together.

Though we are in uncertain times, we can all come together to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. We can support those who struggle or know a loved one struggling with mental illness. We can pause to remember those we’ve lost during this time, and we can use resources readily available to us to take care of ourselves and love on those around us.

If you or someone you know require immediate help during a crisis, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached 800–273-TALK (8255) or text HELLO to 74174.