Since 1949, Mental Health America (MHA) and countless organizations globally, have observed Mental Health Awareness during the month of May.
This year’s theme, “Look Around, Look Within” challenges each and every one of us to examine our environments and how they can affect our overall health.
As humans, the places we live, work, play, and congregate all have a powerful influence on our well-being. It’s important to consider how our environments can affect our mental health.
HIPRC encourages everyone to take some time to look around and to look within — from our communities to our genetics, there are many factors that come into play when managing our mental health.
A safe, stable, and healthy home environment sets the foundation for achieving and maintaining good mental health.
A strong sense of community within neighborhoods protects mental health through shared support, resources, and joy. Challenges like gentrification, community violence, and lack of access to resources can negatively impact mental health. While many of these can be out of your control, being an advocate for change and making healthy community connections can bring hope.
Spending time in nature is linked to many positive mental health outcomes, including improved focus, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of developing mental health conditions, and a sense of connection to yourself, community, and purpose.
Download & Share this 2023 Mental Health Month Toolkit — filled with helpful media and social media resources, printable informational handouts, posters, DIY tools and more! Includes information about how an individual’s environment impacts their mental health, suggestions for making changes to improve and maintain mental well-being, and ways to seek help for mental health challenges.
Courtesy: Mental Health America (MHA)
Take a FREE Mental Health Test Online — this quick and easy screening will help to determine if you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. After you complete your online screening, you will receive information, resources, and tools to help you better understand and improve your mental health.
Courtesy: Mental Health America (MHA)
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.
Yes, it’s important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors. When the demands placed on a person exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health could be impacted. For example, if someone is working long hours, caring for a relative, or experiencing economic hardship, they may experience poor mental health.
There are more than 200 types of Mental Illness, a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Such conditions may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic) and affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day. People can experience different types of mental illnesses or disorders, and they can often occur at the same time. Mental illnesses can also occur over a short period of time or be episodic. This means that the mental illness comes and goes with discrete beginnings and ends.
Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the U.S.:
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, mental health and mental illness are not the same. A person can experience a poor mental health condition and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Likewise, a person diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods of physical, mental, and social well-being.
There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
It is vitally important that communities across Washington state (and beyond) work together to support a strong mental health system that is equipped to provide care, support, and services to those in need.
Mental illness is among the most common health conditions in the United States.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Early Release of Selected Estimates Based on Data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2019 National Summary Tables (Table 13)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2020 National Summary Tables, (Table 10)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC WONDER)
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, CALL, TEXT, or CHAT ‘988’.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 to provide free and confidential support to anyone in need.
The former Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis — the Lifeline’s network of over 200 crisis centers nationwide has been in operation since 2005, and has been proven to be effective.
The Lifeline’s trained counselors are available 24/7 to answer your calls, texts or chats. They will listen, try to understand your problems, provide you with support, and connect you with additional resources. Numerous studies have shown that callers feel less suicidal, less depressed, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking with a Lifeline counselor.
When someone you love is in crisis and needs support, it can be hard to know what to do.
Follow these five easy steps:
Step #1: ASK
Are you thinking about suicide? How do you hurt? How can I help?
Step #2: BE THERE
In person or on the phone. Show support. Listen. Keep promises to connect.
Step #3: KEEP THEM SAFE
If the person in crisis is suicidal, details matter: Do they have a plan, or ideas about timing or method? You can call 988 to support their crisis care.
Step #4: HELP THEM CONNECT
When someone is in crisis, connecting them with ongoing supports can help establish a safety net. Remind them they can call, text or chat 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.Here are five steps you can take that are known to help:
Step #5: FOLLOW UP
After the immediate crisis is over, check in. That text or call afterwards makes a real difference.
Source: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
When we make a point to check-in with OTHERS, it creates an opportunity for those in need to ASK FOR HELP.
Put these helpful tips into action:
Set aside time to talk // It is recommended to try for 15 minutes or longer. Get rid of distractions. This time is just about checking-in. Avoid phones, tablets, or television.
Ask open-ended questions // Start a discussion by asking “What went well today?” and “What could have gone better?” Try to make these conversations part of your daily routine, either at dinnertime or just before kids go to bed.
Listen & validate // Let them express their ideas fully before you respond. If your child expresses feelings of sadness or worry, resist the urge to “fix” the problem immediately. Instead, let them know that it’s okay – and even understandable – to feel this way right now.
Come up with solutions together // Help them come up with ideas for how to make the next day better or identify someone who can help, like a therapist, doctor, or pastor. Help kids focus on what they can control, which can help them better handle stress and anxiety by helping them identify aspects of life they have influence over, while acknowledging there are a lot of things they don’t have control of now.
Schedule time for your next check-in // Be sure to create a routine for check-ins, whether it’s daily or weekly.
Provide reassurance // Remind them to be patient with themselves – the first step towards getting better is to ask for help.
Source: UW Medicine, Interview with Dr. William P. French, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist.
When we check-in with OURSELVES, it creates an opportunity TO FEEL BETTER MENTALLY.
Put these helpful tips into action:
Source: Very Well Mind
Free Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid Class – (Click to view)
New National Guidelines for Improving Youth Mental Health Crisis Care – (Click to view)
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month – (PDF)
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month – (PNG) | (JPG)
Mental Health vs. Mental Illness – (PNG) | (JPG)
Each year, millions of people in the U.S. struggle with a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, psychosis, addiction, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and other real, common and treatable conditions.
Recovery is possible. Take the first step towards managing your mental health with this FREE online test >>
Courtesy: Mental Health America (MHA)
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
CALL, TEXT or CHAT: 9-8-8
VISIT: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Anonymous & Free Crisis Counseling
CALL: 866-4-CRISIS
TEXT: ‘signs’ to 741741
Choose 180
VISIT: choose180.org
Comprehensive Healthcare
CALL: 800-572-8122
VISIT: comphc.org
Crisis Text Line
TEXT: CONVO to 741741
(FREE, confidential, 24/7, support)
FindSupport.gov
VISIT: FindSupport.gov
Find the right words for any scenario
VISIT: seizetheawkward.org
How to Talk About Mental Health
VISIT: thementalhealthcoalition.org/howto
Live Another Day
CALL: 1-866-934-6616 (Talk to a treatment advisor 24/7)
VISIT: liveanotherday.org
(Addiction & Mental Health Resources for All)
Mental Health Coalition’s Resource Library
VISIT: thementalhealthcoalition.org/resources (Find mental health resources most relevant to you)
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for New or Expecting Mothers
CALL: 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS
Mental Health Resources for Black People
VISIT: self.com
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline
CALL: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
VISIT: findsupport.gov
Teenline – A Program of Didi Hirsche Mental Health Services
CALL: 1-800-852-8336
EMAIL: teenline.org/email-us
TEXT: ‘TEEN’ to 839863 (7-days week, 6:00p – 9:00p PT)
VISIT: teenline.org
Trans Lifeline
CALL: 1-877-565-8860
VISIT: translifeline.org
Veterans Crisis Line
CALL: 9-8-8, then Press 1
TEXT: 838255
CHAT: online now
VISIT: veteranscrisisline.net
Wanna Talk About It?
VISIT: wannatalkaboutit.com
We Can Talk About It
WATCH: seizetheawkward.org
2-1-1 Washington
VISIT: search.wa211.org
Behavioral Health Considerations for Endemic COVID-19 (PDF)
Catholic Charities
VISIT: catholiccharitiescw.org
CALL: 1-800-246-2962 (Serving Central WA)
Detox & Drug Rehab Centers in Washington
VISIT: liveanotherday.org
CALL: 1-866-934-6616 (Talk to a treatment advisor 24/7)
Help for behavioral health & recovery clients
VISIT: hca.wa.gov
King County Community Mental Health Resources (PDF)
King County Crisis & Commitment Services
VISIT: kingcounty.gov
CALL: 206-263-9200
Mental Health Resources for Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC)
VISIT: massgeneral.org
Resources & support for parents, families & teachers
VISIT: k12.wa.us
CALL: 360-725-6000
UW Husky Health & Well-Being (for Seattle Students)
VISIT: wellbeing.uw.edu
UW Medicine Peer to Peer Program (support for faculty, staff, and trainees)
VISIT: faculty.uwmedicine.org/p2p
REQUEST HELP: Use this form to request Peer to Peer Support
Washington Behavioral Health Resources
VISIT: wsccsupport.org
CALL: 253-251-2952
Washington Listens: No Insurance, No Fees, Just Support
VISIT: dcyf.wa.gov
Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Services
VISIT: yakama.com
CALL: 509-865-2266
American Psychiatric Association (Find a Psychiatrist)
VISIT: finder.psychiatry.org
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder)
VISIT: aacap.org
American Psychological Association (psychologist locator)
VISIT: locator.apa.org
SAMSHA’s Confidential & Anonymous Resource (Find treatment for Mental & Substance Use Disorders)
VISIT: findtreatment.gov
Changing the way we talk–and what we do–about suicide in Washington, particularly on campuses and in K-12 schools.
How to Deal with Suicide: A Guide from Crisis Text Line
You matter and your life is worth fighting for. If you are in distress or experiencing suicidal thoughts, know that you are not alone. Please talk to someone and seek help. Reaching out is the first step to safety.
Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Helping children understand trauma.
Suicide Prevention: A Guide for Military & Veteran Families
This guide will help you recognize when someone is at risk for suicide and understand the actions you can take to help.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Each year, our nation recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Suicide prevention resources for college and university campuses, including campus faculty and staff, students and parents.
Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for our community that’s been divested from police since day one. We’re run by and for trans people.
Using a jargon-free approach, this hard-cover book provides information on understanding warning signs, symptoms, and options for individuals and their mental health journey. 100% of sales support mental health awareness efforts. Purchase online at Mental Health America.
A Proclamation on National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2023
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, proclaimed May 2023 as National Mental Health Awareness Month.
Watch this video entitled ‘New Mindset’ directed by Danny Capozzi for United for Global Mental Health.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services provides information on mental health.
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is one of 27 components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal government’s principal biomedical and behavioral research agency. NIMH’s mission is to reduce the burden of mental illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior.
World Health Organization’s Mental Health Action Plan
Provides information on mental health and substance use.
This website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. No physician-patient relationship is created by this web site or its use. Neither HIPRC, the University of Washington, nor its employees, nor any contributor to this web site, makes any representations, express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use.