Mental Health Awareness Month 2025

What is Mental Health Awareness Month?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual observance founded by Mental Health America in 1949 to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, educate the public, reduce stigma and promote support for those affected by mental health conditions. Each year, individuals and organizations come together to raise awareness and advocate for better mental health care and resources.

Why Do We Support Mental Health Awareness Month?

Mental health awareness plays a crucial role in reducing stigma, encouraging early intervention and fostering empathy and understanding. By normalizing conversations around mental health, it nurtures a more compassionate society where individuals feel empowered to seek help, leading to improved mental wellbeing. Key objectives of Mental Health Awareness Month include:

  • Educating the public about mental health conditions and their impact.
  • Reducing stigma by encouraging open conversations and fostering acceptance.
  • Highlighting the importance of early intervention and access to treatment.
  • Sharing available mental health resources, including support groups and crisis services.
  • Building solidarity and reducing isolation for those facing mental health challenges.
  • Advocating for improved mental health policies, increased funding and better access to care.
  • Promoting mental wellbeing and self-care practices for overall health.

What Are Some Key Facts About Mental Health in the U.S.? 

Despite progress in mental health initiatives, more than 30 million people in the U.S. still lack access to comprehensive, high-quality care. These statistics highlight the ongoing need for Mental Health Awareness Month and the importance of bringing attention to this disparity: 

  • 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
  • 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.
  • 1 in 6 U.S. youth have a mental health condition, but only half receive treatment.
  • 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
  • In 2022, 22% of high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year.

How Can I Support Mental Health Awareness?

There are many ways to support Mental Health Awareness Month! One of the best ways is to lead by example and prioritize your own mental health. To help you get started, we’ve created a checklist with practical tips. Click below for your free toolkit.

Get Your Free Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit!

To help you bring mental wellbeing into focus for yourself, your family and your friends, we created a toolkit that offers best practices, advocacy insights, learning opportunities and more.

Download Your Copy Today!

You don’t have to work in the behavioral health care field to help yourself and others thrive. Here are three things you can do this month to move mental health forward:

  1. Download our free toolkit above. We’ve outlined several ways you can support your mental wellbeing and help others. Inside, you’ll find tips, original content and resources!
  2. Get trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). You can be the difference through MHFA, a course that teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use challenges. Already trained? Learn how to become a MHFA Instructor!
  3. Raise your voice. Help us advocate to expand access to mental health and substance use care and bring attention to the importance of mental wellbeing.

Where Can I Find Mental Health Resources?

Help is out there, and hope is possible. Here are some free resources to lean on if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis:

How Can I Stay Informed of Mental Health News?

Stay on top of the latest news and trends in mental health and substance use treatment and care by following us on social media, reading our blogs, signing up for our newsletters and more: