May is Mental Health Awareness Month
During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor the absolute courage of the tens of millions of people living with mental health conditions, and we celebrate the loved ones and mental health professionals who are there for them every day.
As Mental Health Awareness Month, May is a time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues, as well as highlighting the ways how mental illness and addiction can affect all of us – patients, providers, families, and our society at large.
Hospitals and health systems play an important role in the conversations we have around mental health care.
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For the past 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being.
Can you tell the difference between a mental health myth and fact? Learn the truth about the most common mental health myths and information to help destigmatize them.
Fact: Mental health issues can affect anyone. In 2020, about:
- One in 5 American adults experienced a mental health condition in a given year
- One in 6 young people have experienced a major depressive episode
- One in 20 Americans have lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression
Fact: Even very young children may show early warning signs of mental health concerns. These mental health conditions are often clinically diagnosable and can be a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Fact: Most people with mental health conditions are no more likely to be violent than anyone else.
Only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness.
You probably know someone with a mental health condition and don’t even realize it, because many people with mental health conditions are highly active and productive members of our communities.
Fact: People with mental health conditions can be just as productive as other employees, especially when they are able to manage their mental health condition well.
Fact: Mental health conditions have nothing to do with being lazy or weak and many people need help to get better. Many factors contribute to mental health conditions, including:
- Biological factors, such as genes, physical illness, injury, or brain chemistry
- Life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse
- Family history of mental health conditions
Fact: Friends and loved ones can make a big difference. In 2020, only 20% of adults received any mental health treatment in the past year, which included 10% who received counseling or therapy from a professional. Friends and family can be important influences to help someone get the treatment and services they need by:
- Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help
- Helping them access mental health services
- Help them learn self-care and coping techniques
- Learning and sharing facts about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn’t true
- Treating them with respect, just as you would anyone else
- Refusing to define them by their diagnosis or using labels such as “crazy”, instead use person-first language
Fact: Prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders focuses on addressing known risk factors, such as exposure to trauma, that can affect the chances that children, youth, and young adults will develop mental health conditions. Promoting a person’s social-emotional well-being leads to:
- Higher overall productivity
- Better educational outcomes
- Lower crime rates
- Stronger economies
- Improved quality of life
- Increased lifespan
- Improved family life
If you would like to learn more about the Mental Health Awareness Month, our information was sourced from https://www.aha.org/mental-health-awareness-month , https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month , https://www.samhsa.gov