Raising Awareness About Mental Health Issues in America
The month of May has been designated Mental Health Awareness Month for 2022. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the theme will be “Together for Mental Health” and will focus on bringing awareness through numerous events and programs.
Mental Health Awareness Month will include:
- Resources on how to access care;
- Spotlights on personal stories;
- Videos and digital toolkits;
- Social media engagements; and
- National events.
Advocates hope to come together to improve care and treatment for individuals with mental health struggles.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
In addition to Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is a time to remove the stigma around suicidal thoughts and bring awareness to the issue. NAMI hopes to “spread hope and vital information to people affected by suicide.”
According to their research, 4.8% of all adults in the United States have serious thoughts of suicide each year. While suicidal thoughts affect people of all ages it is prevalent among young adults with 11.8% of people between the ages of 18-25 reporting the issue and 18.8% of high school students.
There are several resources available for individuals struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts and for those that have loved ones who may be in crisis.