May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Contributor: IDEA Culture & Climate Subcommittee

Subject Line: Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!  The theme for 2022 is “Together for Mental Health.” National Mental Health Awareness Week is organized between May 10 and May 16. To show your support, consider wearing green on Monday May 16th. We all face challenges in life that  can impact our mental health. Research indicates that one in five people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. Our mental health is essential to our overall health and well-being ??

A great starting point for anyone who is ready to start prioritizing their mental health is to take a Mental Health Screening. It’s a quick, free, and confidential way for someone to assess their mental health and  begin finding hope and healing.  For your convenience I have also attached a list of local counseling services. The New York State Education Department and Office of Mental Health recently shared joint guidance on supporting student mental health, including resources for students, staff, and families. I invite you to explore the resources in this document here, Guidance on Supporting Student Mental Health.

Hard time focusing? For those of us that have moments when we struggle to stay focussed and on task, below are a few music choices that help center you to stay in the moment and focus on the task before you. Plug your earbuds into your computer & let the music work its magic!  

Opportunities to get involved:

The 2022 Awareness Event Guide for May's Mental Health Awareness Month.

Advocate: Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) movement to advocate for a better mental health care system by signing up for advocacy alerts and taking action when opportunities arise in your community.

Mental Health America (MHA) Toolkit

https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month-2022-toolkit-download