Slap on your green ribbons because it’s Mental Health Awareness Month! Throughout the month of May, we encourage you to join the movement to help reevaluate your mental health care and 
wellness by finding support for yourself—and offering it to those around you, as well. Mental Health Awareness Month was established to “fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families.” This stigma prevents people from getting the help they need. The best way to do that is to dispel some of the common myths about mental illness.
Myth: Mental health problems are not that common.
Fact: While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health.
Myth: Medication is always the answer and therapy is a waste of time.
Fact: This varies for everyone. Often a combination of medication and therapy are used to support recovery. Combined treatment appears to be more effective than treatment with antidepressant medication alone.
Myth: You can’t help someone with mental illness.
Fact: Everyone can help someone with mental illness. By making yourself aware that
How else can we make ourselves and other aware of mental health?
Educate and practice what you preach! The more we talk about mental health, the more common it will become caring for it. Normalize therapy, medication, and exercise. Anyone can experience mental illness regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or lifestyle. Remember to take the time to recognize your own emotions and resilience. Tracking your mood every few hours is a great start to becoming aware. Identify the circumstances in which they make you feel and if you’re ready, share with others. Similar to group therapy, being open about mental health is crucial to standardizing mental health. It’s important to build a connections and increase awareness with the digital tools, such as social media, to give support during the climate of physical distancing. It doesn’t have to be the public, but possibly close friends, and/or family to start the conversation.
In the links below are more myth busters and how to educate others on mental health.
Dispelling Myths on Mental Illness
Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month
28 Mental Health Activities, Worksheets & Books for Adults & Students
Tools 2 Thrive Outreach Toolkit
