Mental Health Awareness Month 2024: What It Is and Why It's Important

2024 Mental Health Facts

It’s important to be aware of the impact mental health has on our society. Unfortunately, recent studies have found American’s mental health is worsening. Here’s the facts you need to know:

• 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness
• 17% of adolescents aged 12-17 experience at least one depressive episode
• 33.5% of adults with a mental illness also have a substance use disorder
• Anxiety Disorders are the most common form of mental illness
• 19.1% of adults experience anxiety disorders

A lot of people don’t get the mental health help they need because they don’t understand mental illness or the treatment options out there. 40% of people believe therapy doesn’t work, 39% don’t have enough time, and 37% don’t have robust enough insurance. 

By raising awareness through events like Mental Health Awareness Month, we can connect more people to the life-saving resources they need.

How you can support mental health awareness this month

Mental Health Awareness Month is this May, and it only happens once a year! How can you get involved? Here are some ideas: 

1. Wear Green: Green is the color for mental health awareness. Mental Health America, which runs a Mental Health Awareness campaign every month, is hosting the “Be seen in green” challenge, which encourages participants to wear green and raise awareness and money for mental health awareness. 
2. Share on Social Media: Advocate for mental health by posting about it on your social media! Use #LiveBrighter #MentalHealthAwareness Month to encourage people to take care of their mental health. 
3. Check-in with a Friend: A lot of people try to hide how much they’re hurting, even if they say they’re “fine”. Check-in with your friends and see how they’re really doing. Ask how you can support them, even if it’s just sitting with them for a little bit. 
4. Donate to a Cause: A lot of the biggest organizations pushing for mental health awareness and policies are nonprofits. If you have extra finances, consider making a donation to nonprofits like NAMI, Mental Health America, Active Minds, or The Trevor Project.
5. Take action: This year, Mental Health Action Day is May 16, 2024. Take action by volunteering at a crisis text line, local community group, or a favorite local organization. Or, organize a Mental Health Day for you and your friends. Provide resources for mental health help like therapy, check-in with each other, and do something good for your mental health, like going for a walk. 
6. Take care of yourself: Oftentimes the best thing you can do for Mental Health Awareness Month is take care of yourself. How is your mental health? What can you do to make it better? Read on for a few examples. 

Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month with Lifebulb. We’ll be posting Mental Health coping skills, statistics, and things to know on our social media channels all month. Give us a follow and let’s start changing the conversation around mental health for the better!

How to talk to someone about their mental health

This May is the perfect time to talk to someone about their mental health. You may have noticed their behavior or mood changing, or maybe you just want to check-in. It’s always a good idea to talk about mental health with your friends. In one study done by NAMI, they found that 67% of people believed their problems weren’t bad enough to stress about, and 63% didn’t want to be a burden to others. By starting a conversation about mental health, you give them the chance to say what’s on their mind, and can build bridges to greater resources for them. 

So, here’s a few simple steps you can take to start a conversation about mental health:

1. Find a quiet place where they won’t worry about being overheard. For example, in the middle of the workday or when they’re at home with their parents around may make them feel uncomfortable. 
2. Ask open-ended questions: Asking the usual things like “Are you okay?” can lead to simple yes or no answers. Instead, ask things like “How have you been, really?” Or, if you know something stressful is happening in their life, ask “How are you doing with x going on?” 
3. Use silences: Silences can be awkward but don’t rush to automatically fill them. A lot of people use silence to think or get up the courage to say what they’re really feeling. Let silences stretch a little.  
4. Keep it casual. It shouldn’t feel like an interview or therapy session; you’re not their therapist. You just want to provide a space where they can talk about their mental health if they want to. 
5. Don’t interrupt: Once they’ve started to open up to you, don’t interrupt them until they are completely finished. Wait a beat longer than you think you should before replying, so they can keep going if they need to. This may be the first time they tell anyone this, so give them the space they need to find the right words. 
6. Summarize what you heard: By repeating back the meaning behind their words, you show them you were truly listening. It’ll help them feel heard. For example: “It sounds like you’ve been really stressed about the conflict at work,” is simple but effective. 
7. Ask follow-up questions: Before you jump to handing out advice, take your time to fully understand by asking any follow-up questions you have. 
8. Remind them that they are not alone: You won’t be able to fix their problems, but you can provide them the support they need. 
9. Ask if they want any mental health resources: Not everyone will be susceptible to outside help at this point, and the most important thing is that they feel supported by you. But you should still ask them if they would like any resources. For example, “I know of some good organizations that might be able to help. Do you want me to send them to you?” Respect their decision if they say no. 
10. Reiterate that you are there for them: Reassure them that you aren’t judging them for what they told you and that you are there for them if they ever need to talk again. 

Supporting our loved ones is one of the best ways we can spread mental health awareness this month.

Build your Mental Health Toolbox

Another great way to participate in Mental Health Awareness in 2024 is to take care of yourself! So often, we’re looking out for other people’s health that we forget to look after our own. 

Therapists often talk about having a “toolbox” of coping skills. Think of this like a toolbox filled with different behaviors and activities that help you manage distressing emotions and thoughts. For example, if you are at the grocery store and start to feel anxious, you can use one of your “tools”, like a breathing exercise, to calm down. 

Here are some of our favorite coping skills you can add to your toolbox this May: 

• Go for a walk while thinking about your mental health: Did you know walking results in similar brain functioning as EMDR? The bilateral stimulation (alternatively using the left and right sides of your brain repeatedly) is great at working through traumas and distressing memories in a way that promotes healing. Go for a walk, put on some calming music, and think about whatever distressing thoughts or memories have been plaguing you recently. 
• Take a sensory bath or shower: Engage the five senses by dimming the lights in your bathroom (bring in a small lamp or nightlight and turn off the overhead light), turning on music, lighting a candle, and taking a shower or bath. This is even better if you end with a few minutes of cold shower. Focus on the sounds, smells, and feelings around you. This mindfulness can reduce stress and anxiety. 
• Go a full day without your phone: How does it feel? What did you get done? Can you implement “No phone” hours throughout the day?
• Do something that scares you: Resilience and self-esteem are strongly linked to mental health. Fortunately, they are both traits we can develop. By doing something that scares you, like going out to eat by yourself, opening up to a friend, or asking for a promotion at work, you prove to yourself that you can do hard things. 
• Take a nap: When was the last time you actually rested? We live in a society that glorifies productivity and shames relaxation, but relaxing and unwinding are powerful tools to help your mental health. Plus, most people aren’t getting enough sleep, which can have a huge impact on your mental health. Try to do something that fully rests you. 

It doesn’t take much to do something for yourself. Try something small today, and the day after that. Make a habit of showing up for yourself.

Resources

Finally, sharing resources is a great way to participate in Mental Health Awareness Month 2024. This May, share these resources with your loved ones (and try them out yourself!)

• Take a Mental Health Screening test: Do you know if you have mental health illness symptoms? Take our free, online self-assessments to find out. 
• Learn more about Mental Health with these organizations: 
  • NAMI
  • APA
• Use a free hotline: 
  • National Suicide Prevention Line - call 988
  • Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741
• Download a free mental health app: 
  • Headspace: Best for meditation 
  • Finch: Best for self-care tracking and community building
  • Calm: Best for Relaxing and sleep
  • Moodfit: Best for tracking moods and identifying negative thinking patterns
  • Sanvello: Best for stress management and developing coping skills
• Find a therapist near you

Conclusion

Lifebulb is always here with top-notch therapists and affordable therapy sessions. Did you know that most insurances cover mental health therapy? Online therapy also helps make therapy more affordable and accessible. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, reach out to our team. We can match you with a therapist who meets your needs and goals.

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