Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? It’s not a new thing either! Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed during the month of May in the United States since 1949!

Happy 72nd year anniversary of this awesome initiative.

The green ribbon is often associated with Mental Health Awareness/Month, and can be seen on various advocacy platforms this month and throughout the year. Green is often associated with support, hope, and strength.

If you are looking for some up-to-date information regarding mental health statistics, I encourage you to check out the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). From their website, here are some eye-opening statistics:

1 in 5 adults experience mental illness (USA) each year
1 in 6 youth (aged 6-17) experience a mental health disorder each year
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for individuals aged 10-34
2 in 5 incarcerated individuals have a history of mental illness

Please note, these statistics might have changed given the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental health symptoms are often not seen or can be easily hidden. Just because you can’t see a symptom or issue, doesn’t mean the person is lying or that it’s not there. People struggle in silence daily and part of this month is working on continuing to break the stigma surrounding therapy services and asking for help. There is no shame in asking for help with your mental health or talking to someone. The more we talk about mental health, the more we normalize mental health treatment, which includes therapy and medication.

There are several resources at both the state and national level that are listed on my website. If you are interested in services for yourself or a loved one, or just want to learn more about mental health and how you can help reduce the stigma, I strongly encourage you to check out those sources or speak to a trained professional in the field.