Awareness is great,
but taking action is ESSENTIAL.
Why is raising awareness for mental health important?
Raising awareness is important because it becomes easier to identify mental illness, which leads to faster treatment, which then leads to better treatment results.
One out of four people suffer from a mental illness, and it impacts EVERYONE, not just the person with the illness!
This includes our family, friends and close community members.
This is why it is important that we work together to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness.
By becoming more aware and knowledgeable of mental health, we can break the stigma, and mental illness might become easier to understand.
Reducing the stigma means that we would be shifting negative misconceptions and behaviors of the community towards the positive side.
Knowledge and taking appropriate actions towards accepting people struggling with a mental illness would make a HUGE difference.
Raising awareness for mental health is a PRIORITY because there is a high demand.
Read more about the importance of raising awareness here
Use your talent and creativity, the sky is the limit!
Raising awareness and funds ideas
- Create an athletic event: Local homerun derby; a race; a bowling tournament; cycle or run across your state or country; corn hole tournament; potato sack race; CrossFit or weightlifting competition; pushup competition; hiking event; golf tournament; frisbee golf tournament; triathlon; obstacle course race; etc.
- Community: Neighborhood or church cookout; BINGO night; go kart race; school fair; school play; put on a concert; cinema night; plant a garden; dedicate a bench in memory of someone who passed away; scavenger hunt; hold a dinner and have a guest speaker; kite flying event; etc.
- Write about mental health: share your story in a public space; write a blog, book or article; poetry; etc.
- Media: use social media as a platform; create a short film; create an online photo gallery; etc.
Get involved with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Plan an in-person fundraising event for your community.
- Celebrate a milestone, special occasion or holiday by supporting NAMI in lieu of gifts.
- Design your own online campaign to raise awareness and support NAMI.
- Create a memorial page for a loved one you’ve lost as a meaningful, lasting tribute.
- Undertake a physical challenge and keep yourself motivated by supporting NAMI.
Additional ideas on taking action
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- Share your story, project (school projects, too!) or fundraiser. Visit the “Understand the Facts” section to learn more about anxiety, depression and other co-occurring and related mental health illnesses. Become a member of their online member community.
Article from Verywell that covers information on the leading mental health charities and organizations
- Learn how to be an advocate. Mental Health America National Institute of Mental Health, which is dedicated to clinical research, and they have free brochures, booklets and e-books that can help educate the public. National Alliance on Mental Health American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Child Mind Institute. This organization is an invaluable resource to parents. https://childmind.org/ Other resources
5 ways to raise awareness during May (mental health month)
- Take to social media to inspire others to get involved. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Use these hashtags to reach a larger audience: #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #EndTheStigma #MentalHealthMonth #MHM #StigmaFree #IntoMentalHealth
- Encourage others to share your posts.
- Encourage open communication.
- Share screening tools.
- Contact your legislators.
- Support advocacy efforts.
- For more details, follow the link.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
- How to get involved and become a leader.
- NAMI Walk
- Become a fundraiser.
- Attend a NAMI National Convention.
- Pledge to be stigma free.
- Awareness events.
- Partner with NAMI.
- Share your story.
- More! NAMI is awesome.
GoFundMe tips on making a larger impact with your fundraiser
- Mental health fundraising.
- Expand your knowledge.
- Start a conversation.
- Craft care packages.
- Share your story.
- Go social.
- Host a community-wide fundraising event.
- Go to the website to learn more details and to create a mental health fundraiser.
- Visit their other resources.
Mental health fundraising spreads joy and positivity.
Physical challenges
Mental Health America’s #4Mind4Body Challenge
- This is such a cool challenge.
- Something for everyday in the month of May.
- It will positively impact your life… and maybe even those around you.
- Learn about #MindfulMonday #TastyTuesday #WorkplaceWednesday #ThoughtfulThursday #FitnessFriday #StressFreeSaturday #SleepWellSunday
- Mental and physical wellness; eating; mindfulness; anxiety triggers; sleep; motivation; gratitude; brain; inspiration; celebration; thoughtfulness.
Pushup challenge
I took on the 25 Pushups for 25 Days Challenge to raise awareness for mental health and suicide (including suicide prevention), you can read about how to do the challenge here and also watch my pushup videos.
Walks
- NAMI Walks
- Out of the Darkness Walks.
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- I Rock the Walk for Mental Health Awareness, Active.com group.
NAMI Walks
- A National Day of Hope.
- Tools and resources to magnify your efforts.
- There are THOUSANDS of participants and MILLIONS of dollars raised.
More organizations to visit
- Substance use can be a roadblock for many people.
- Free self-help resource about drugs, alcohol, addiction, and recovery.
- The benefits of rehab and about services.
Charity Navigator Your Guide to Intelligent Giving
- Disasters and natural disaster support.
- COVID-19 top nonprofits.
- Humanitarian and civil rights.
- Protecting the environment.
Thank you for your efforts.
Related content
Mental Health Books and Resources (for mental health professionals)
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective – Affordable Mental Health Services
Friendly Reminder: Understand and support your mental health
Why You Should Prioritize Your Mental Health (and how)
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