Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, it has been observed since 1949. The month is about spreading awareness, combatting stigmas, and promoting mental health resources. TeenHealth FX encourages you to be kind to others because you never know what someone is going through but also be kind to yourself.
If you are struggling with mental health, here are some facts to remind you that you are not alone in that:
- 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% by age 24
- Nearly 9.5% of teens experience anxiety that interferes with their everyday functioning
- 69.1% of youths aged 12 to 17 said they experienced a major depressive episode during the first year of the pandemic.
Some unique ways to practice Mental Health May are:
- Smile at a stranger or engage in random acts of kindness
- Do something that makes you happy
- Go for a walk
- Try something new
- Baking, journaling, working out, coloring, etc.
- Hang out with friends, partner, or family
- Reach out to a mental health professional, guidance counselor, or trusted adult if you have / are dealing with mental health issues
- Practice positive self-talk
- EX: I am ... kind, smart, capable, loving, loved, etc.
- Practice mindfulness
- Meditate, take a yoga class, or follow a video at home, do some breathing exercises to reduce stress and increase relaxation
Need immediate Help in a Crisis?
Text, call, or chat with 988 to speak with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Available 24/7.
Click the links below for more mental health awareness resources:
