It’s Mental Health Awareness Week!
Did You Know….?
- 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year (47.6 million in 2018)
- 1 in 25 adults experience serious mental illness each year (11.4 million in 2018)
- 1 in 6 youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year (7.7 million in 2018)
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
*Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The reality is that millions of Americans live with a mental health condition each day. Mental illness not only affects the person directly, but has a ripple affect through family, friends and coworkers. Reach and prevalence is on the rise, yet the stigma and misunderstanding still exists and are also widespread.
This is why each year, during the first week of October, we celebrate Mental Health Awareness week to help educate the public, fight stigma, and provide support. NAMI reports that each year, the movement grows stronger and stronger as more participants across the country rise to the occasion in support of this initiative, originally founded in 1990 by US Congress. While it’s important to discuss mental health conditions year-round, this week provides a dedicated time and platform for advocates across the country to come together as one unified voice.
If anyone knows mental health, it’s our friends at NAMI! They have compiled a comprehensive resource hub surrounding this week’s initiatives:
- Graphics and Resources
- Sentimojis
- Awareness Messaging
- Share your Story
- WhyCare Campaign
- Partners and Events
- Advocate for Mental Health
If you are feeling in need of support with your own mental health, our staff is already willing and ready to help. Be sure to contact us and speak with one of our Care Coordinators.