May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Excerpt from NAMI.org:

Throughout May, NAMI observes Mental Health Month to raise awareness of mental illness. This year, NAMI will launch a new campaign called "CureStigma" where we will ask people to join their voices with ours to #CureStigma. 

Why this cause is important: One in 5 Americans is affected by mental health conditions. Stigma is toxic to their mental health because it creates an environment of shame, fear and silence that prevents many people from seeking help and treatment. The perception of mental illness won’t change unless we act to change it.

Campaign manifesto: There’s a virus spreading across America. It harms the 1 in 5 Americans affected by mental health conditions. It shames them into silence. It prevents them from seeking help. And in some cases, it takes lives. What virus are we talking about? It’s stigma. Stigma against people with mental health conditions. But there’s good news. Stigma is 100% curable. Compassion, empathy and understanding are the antidote. Your voice can spread the cure. Join NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Together we can #CureStigma.

During Mental Health Month, our goal is to inspire people to build better lives for millions of people with mental illness. 

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Key statistics include:

• 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with a mental health condition
• 1 in 25 (10 million) adults in the United States lives with a serious mental illness
• 60 million people in the United States face the day-to-day reality of living with a mental illness
• Half of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24, but early intervention programs can help

Additional facts and citations are available at Mental Health by the Numbers.

For additional information about Mental Health Month, to take the Cure Stigma quiz and to access CureStigma resources, please visit curestigma.org.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Join the conversation at: 

nami.org

facebook.com/nami

instagram.com/namicommunicate

twitter.com/namicommunicate #CureStigma and #StigmaFree

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, NAMI and the rest of the country are bringing awareness to mental health. Each year we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care.

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Attendees are encouraged to arrive at 1:30 p.m.