With 1 in 5 Americans—or 43.8 million adults—suffering from a mental illness every year, it is likely that someone you care about is managing one themselves. To help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, educate, and provide resources for sufferers, Mental Health America has observed May as Mental Health Awareness month since 1949.
Making a difference is the result of small actions, and below is a list of ways that you can help raise awareness and support the millions of Americans living with a mental illness.
Register for a walk or a run
The Humboldt Mile 2017 – May 20, 2017
“The Humboldt Mile honors mental health awareness month with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Hope For The Day’s proactive suicide prevention programs. Hope For The Day’s second annual Humboldt Mile, presented by Dark Matter Coffee and THREE RUN TWO running club, is a USATF certified, chip-timed one mile race that will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2017 in Humboldt Park.”
The NAMI Chicago 5K – Sept. 16, 2017
Walk, run, or skip if you want to! NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, raised $11 million last year nationwide thanks to participants in these walks. Help NAMIWalks Chicago reach their goal of $180,000 this year.
Volunteer or donate to local organizations
Whether it’s your time, money, or skill set, the following organizations could use a hand in helping communities in the Chicago area cope with mental illness and providing valuable resources.
- NoStigmas in Chicago
- NAMI Chicago or NAMI Schaumburg Area
- Mental Health America of Illinois
- Township of Schaumburg Mental Health Committee
Become an advocate
According to Mental Health America, 20.3-percent of adult sufferers are not able to get treatment. Systemic barriers such as inadequate insurance, insufficient finances, and lack of treatment providers and types, keep people from getting the help they need. How accessible treatment is for individuals largely depends on state and local policies. Reach out to your city and state officials and let them know how important it is to have access to treatment. If you need help finding out who your elected officials are, Common Cause has a complete list.
Educate yourself
Knowledge is power, and when you’re properly armed with accurate information, you can help dispel myths and misconceptions often tacked to people managing a mental illness. In addition to reading peer reviewed journals, personal accounts, conferences, and workshops are a great way to stay up to date on the latest news, resources, and best practices for what to do if someone needs your help. Consider engaging with one of the following resources or events to increase your wealth of knowledge and understanding.
Another Life Docupoetry Series by The TRiiBE – “In this docupoetry series, Black millennials share the challenges and triumphs of their therapeutic journeys toward healing in the aftermath of gun violence.”
The Mighty – A website dedicated to telling real stories from real people. They touch bases on various aspects of health, but they have a section dedicated to the voices of people suffering from metal illness.
Mental Health First Aid in Arlington Heights – May 10 & 11, 2017
“Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common supports.”
Promising News in Mental Health Policy – May 11, 2017
“For Mental Health Month last May, Cathedral Counseling Center hosted Sherriff Tom Dart and Executive Director Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia to talk about Cook County Jail’s work with the many mentally ill incarcerated there. To continue this conversation, this year Mark Heyrman from the University of Chicago Law School will talk about new developments for the treatment of the mentally ill in the criminal justice system.”
Mental Health First Aid Training – May 25, 2017
“A 9-hour training course that teaches you how to help someone who is developing a mental health crisis. People across the country are trained in Mental Health First Aid. You will learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and addictions.”
Join the conversation
Organizations nationwide are raising awareness about mental illness all month long. Tell your story or learn from others with the following hashtags:
#MHM2017
#mentalhealth
#MentalHealthAwareness
#MentalHealthMatters
#endthestigma
Aronson Advertising Inc. in Schaumburg, IL has cultivated a supportive work environment of diversity and inclusion, and our automotive advertising agency supports mental health awareness. Learn more about our company culture by clicking here.
