Mental Health Awareness Month
Posted by lifeinsight No Comments on Mental Health Awareness Month Uncategorized
Mental Health Awareness Month
|
Mental Health Awareness Month Mental Health Awareness Month (also referred to as Mental Health Month) has been observed in May in the United States since 1949, reaching millions of people in the United States through the media, local events, and screenings. Mental health awareness month was started in the United States in 1949 by the Mental Health America organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health). Each year in mid-March !Mental Health America releases a ‘toolkit of materials’ to guide preparation for outreach activities during Mental Health Awareness Month. During the month of May, Mental Health America, its affiliates, and other organizations interested in mental health conduct a number of activities which are based on a different theme each year. Themes From Recent Years Included:
2019 Mental Health Awareness Month Theme The theme for the 2019 Mental Health Month is ‘Fitness #4Mind4Body, meaning that health is an all encompassing matter and we must take care of our minds just as much as we take care of our bodies. Mental health is important for our physical health and vice versa. A well-balanced diet, a healthy sleep schedule, exercise, gut health, and hydration all affect our mental health and our physical health equally. Studies have shown that individuals who have chronic medical illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure or autoimmune disorders have a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. Our bodies and mind act as one unit and therefore it is important to care for both our emotional and mental state as well as our physical health. Changing Your Health by Changing Your Habits This year‘s campaign was encouraging individuals around the country to focus on the following healthy aspects of their daily lives in order to promote mental wellness:
Small Changes Have Big Impacts For the month of May and the rest of 2019, Mental Health America and NAMI were challenging you to make small positive changes in your life that can benefit your mind and your body. Document these changes and feel free to share on show media. You may be surprised by how much positive impact one small change can have on your life. -Source Who is #WhyCare 1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness this year. Show how you care about mental health. The WhyCare campaign is an opportunity to share the importance of care in our relationships with others, and mental health treatment and services and support and education to millions of people, families, caregivers and loved ones affected by mental illness. Demonstrating how and why we care brings more awareness by showing our actions and connections to others. Care has the power to make a life-changing impact on those affected by mental health conditions. Through our own words and actions, we can shift the social and systemic barriers that prevent people from building better lives. Care is a simple four letter word, but a powerful way to change lives for people affected by mental illness. It’s an action. It’s a feeling. It’s a gift we give to ourselves and to each other. People feel loved when someone cares. People feel heard when someone cares. People recover when someone cares. Society changes when people care. Entire systems change when people care. For more than 40 years, NAMI has been a beacon of help and hope by providing the support, education and advocacy to ensure that all people affected by mental health conditions get the care they need and deserve. #NAMICares #WhyCare -Source
|
|