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!Mental Health Awareness Month 2024
What is Mental Health Awareness Month?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance started in 1949 by Mental Health America to bring attention to the importance of mental wellbeing. Across the country, individuals and organizations step up to raise awareness of and help address the challenges faced by people living with mental health conditions. Read on to learn more about this observance and how you can move mental health forward for yourself and others this month and all year long.
Why is Mental Health Awareness Important?
Despite recent strides in how our society approaches mental wellbeing, many Americans still don’t have access to the high-quality, comprehensive treatment and care they need. Just take a look at some of the staggering data about mental health in the United States:
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
- Only 47.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021.
- 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.
- Only 65.4% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2021.
- 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.
How Can I Support Mental Health Awareness?
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:
- 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!
- 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!
- 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:
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a 24/7 treatment referral and information service.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7, confidential support for people in distress.
- The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ+ young people.
- FindTreatment.gov helps people seek treatment for mental and substance use disorders.
- National Institute of Mental Health outlines additional mental health services.
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:
- Explore our resource directory.
- Visit our news page for the latest updates.
- Join us for an upcoming learning opportunity.
- Sign up to receive our newsletters.
- Explore our video playlists on YouTube.
- Read our blog for best practices, insights and stories.
- Visit our MHFA blog for inspiring stories and tips.
- Get the latest MHFA news.
- Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.