May is Mental Health Awareness Month (2024 Resources)
May 2024: Mental Health Awareness Month
The American Psychological Association defines mental health as:
Image Caption: It's okay to not be okay (NAMI, 2024). May 2024: Mental Health Awareness Month
What is Mental Health Awareness?
Mental Health Awareness aims to decrease stigma, increase education on mental health issues, promote access to psychological services, and connect people with resources.
Mental Health Awareness clarifies myths or Misconceptions About Mental Health.
Image Caption: 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% by age 24 (NAMI, 2024).
Why is Awareness Important
Mental health issues are common:
At any given time, 1 in 5 people in the U.S. live with a mental illness (CDC)
In 2022, 1 in 20 adults had serious thoughts about suicide within a 12-month period (SAMHSA, 2023).
In 2022, more than 1 out of 8 teenagers had serious thoughts of suicide within the previous year (3.14 million teens) (SAMSHA)The latest available data from the Alaska Health Scorecard 2023:
Looking at the mental health among Alaskans (using the Alaska Scorecard 2023):
In 2022 Alaska saw an alcohol related death rate (per 100,000 people) at 36.2%
Compared to the 13.6% U.S average
Emergency department visits related to self-harm (or suicide attempt) in the US were 46.7% in 2021; in 2022, Alaska’s rate was 125.8% (per 100,000 people)
This is not a typo: 125.8%, and it was a decrease from 131.1% during 2017-2019
In 2023, 97.6% of youth with a disability* in a Division of Juvenile Justice facility were held in secure treatment units
(disability*= per the Alaska Mental Health Scorecard, “identified behavioral health or neurobiological condition”)
2022 marked a 196.7% increase from the year prior in non-fatal fall injuries (includes traumatic or acquired brain injury), impacting over 4,500 Alaskans
Image Caption: The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years (NAMI, 2024).
Some mental health diagnoses can go undetected, or underdiagnosed, such as
Depression
Anxiety
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Prolonged Grief
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
ADHD and/or Autism
Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Perinatal and Postpartum Mood Disorders
Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury
What You Can Do
Know that mental health issues can be prevented and treated.
With May serving as Mental Health Awareness Month, pay extra attention to your mental, social, and emotional well-being.
Plan some extra self-care time, or dedicate a few hours to promote your psychological well-being each week.
If you’ve been putting off starting therapy this May be the time to find a therapist (or call up your previous therapist).
Make sure to get a consistent high quality sleep (Learn more here: Connection Between Sleep & Mental Health)
Check "Additional Mental Health Awareness Resources" below on how to find a therapist.
Share your experiences with mental health as much as you are comfortable; this can help decrease stigma towards mental illness!
There are various mental health awareness campaigns across social media this month; check out the stories from others or share your own.
Reach out to friends, family, and people you care about with a friendly check-in.
Advocate for improved mental health care access in your community and to your policymakers.
If a person shares his/her/their experience with a mental health struggle:
DO:
Validate their feelings or challenges, thank them for sharing, and offer to be a support in the future.
DON'T:
Respond with, "People have had it worse," "Just worry less," or "Have you tried feeling happier?"
Statements such as these may be well intended, but come off dismissive and unsupportive.
If you or someone you know is at an immediate risk of harm to yourself or others: Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Additionally, the 988 Suicide Crisis Line can support those in crisis.
Additional Mental Health Awareness Resources:
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Alaska Mental Health Trust Fund: Beneficiaries
How to Find a Therapist (How to Start Therapy)
Alaska Scorecard 2023
988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline (Call or text)
SAMSHA Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit
Habits that Improve Mental Health
45 Regulation Activities to Boost Well-Being
NAMI: What Does it Mean to Be a Mental Health Advocate?
About the Author:
Hello, my name is Nicole!
I am a pre-licensed psychotherapist working under the supervision of Psychologist Dr. Ekstrom (#196093, #125200) while pursuing professional licensure in Alaska. I hold a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
I provide online individual and group counseling services to adult Alaskans.
My clinical work supports people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, chronic illness, life transitions, new health diagnoses, and people who have experienced trauma.
I am an LGBTQ+ friendly and neurodivergent affirming provider; and am listed as a COVID cautious therapist in Alaska.
Learn more about my therapeutic approach and practice, Stellar Insight Counseling here!
References
Credit on NAMI Images: National Alliance on Mental Illness https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/#graphics
Center for Disease Control & Prevention, (2024). About mental health. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). HHS, SAMSHA release 2022 national survey on drug use and health data. https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20231113/hhs-samhsa-release-2022-nsduh-data