Happy Mental Health Awareness Month

Since 1949, the United States has observed Mental Health Awareness Month or Mental Health Month in May. It was started by Mental Health America. Every year during May, Mental Health America  and other organizations plan events and other special things to help raise awareness for mental conditions like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and others.  

How Prevalent Is Mental Illness in the U.S.?

About one out of every five people in the United States  struggles with a mental condition like depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar, or another mental illness. Depression is the number one cause of disability worldwide. And suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.  

These conditions are more common than we think, yet they are still seen as taboo. Too many people are ashamed of their conditions when they shouldn’t be. People who have these conditions didn’t do anything wrong.  

While certain circumstances can contribute to mental health conditions, they don’t necessarily cause them. Like any other physical illness, mental conditions affect anyone of any race, gender, age, sexuality, social status, etc.  

To help raise awareness and end the stigma of mental health, many are speaking out on social media and through other platforms to start an open dialogue on this topic.  

Who Is Joining the Conversation?

Organizations like Mental Health America , Stamp Out Stigma , I Don’t Mind , and others have given a voice to people who struggle with their mental health and created a community where they can find hope. 

Along with these organizations, many celebrities and influencers are joining the mental health conversation  to help break the stigma, including Kristen Bell, Demi Lovato, Bebe Rexha, Howie Mandel, and many others.   

Companies like Burger King are even creating ad campaigns centered around raising mental health awareness. The fast-food chain recently came out with real meals that feature a variety of different moods . The idea behind this campaign is that no one is happy all the time, and that’s okay. Burger King also created the hashtag #FeelYourWay to go along with this movement.  

How Can You Make a Difference?

When you open up about your own mental health, others are encouraged to open up as well. Openly and proudly discussing your mental health will help others realize that they are not alone. Joining in on the conversation will also help those who haven’t experienced mental illness understand it a little better and empathize more with those who have.  

If you would like some tips on how to open up about your mental health, check out our previous blog post on how to talk about depression . You can also take a look at some of our other blog posts for great insight and advice on a variety of mental health topics .  

We at Serenity Mental Health Centers want to do everything we can to help our patients feel comfortable about their mental health. Contact us  to schedule an appointment today.