Mental Health America launched Mental Health Awareness Month in 1949 to increase awareness of mental health issues, reduce stigma, and share resources to help people cope, live a higher quality of life, and heal emotional and psychological wounds. The first week of May, Childrens’ Mental Health Awareness Week, rallies the effort of mental health communities across the nation to bring its focus on our youth.
Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. It is important to understand early symptoms of mental illness and know when certain behaviors are potentially signs of something more. We need start the education efforts early and most often times the first point of access is in our schools. When we engage in prevention and early identification, we can help reduce the burden of mental illness by identifying symptoms and warning signs early—and provide effective treatment. For more information on Mental Health Month and mental health resources, visit the links below.
https://www.samhsa.gov/children/family-educational-materials
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may
https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-development/mental-health/index.html