Friends, colleagues, and community,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and, in 2021, it finds us after a year of unprecedented stress, sacrifice, and resilience. So many of us are feeling the strain of these unusual times. Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to seek support for ourselves and our loved ones in navigating these challenges; it is also a time to do our part in lifting the veil of stigma and misinformation about mental health conditions. Here at the SPIRIT Lab, we are committed to providing information about psychosis and improving the standard of care for those who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness. We know that psychotic experiences are common and can cause significant distress or impairment. We also know that psychosis is understandable, modifiable, and treatable. On our website, you can learn more about:

Mental Health Awareness Month is a global initiative, and many different professional organizations have developed programs to further the conversation around destigmatizing and improving treatment for mental health. We welcome you to review the list of organizations below to learn more about these important efforts:

Action Alliance
Active Minds

Promoting the #HereForYou campaign by encouraging individuals to take the Here for You pledge to 1) actively listen when someone is struggling; 2) model kindness, trust, and vulnerability; 3) learn about mental health resources available in the community; and 4) commit to continuing the conversation

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Promoting #MentalHealth4All campaign, which encourages everyone to get involved by taking one simple action to encourage friends, family, and community to take mental health seriously

The Jed Foundation
Mental Health America

Promoting the #Tools2Thrive campaign, providing practical tools everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase their resiliency

Mental Health Coalition
NAMI

Promoting the You Are Not Alone (#NotAlone) campaign, which focuses on the power of connection for those affected by mental illness

National Institute of Mental Health

Promoting messaging focused on checking in with ourselves and loved ones across social media platforms throughout the month

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/ Vibrant Behavioral Health
  • Co-hosting Twitter chat on Tuesday, May 18th at 1:30pm ET with Mental Health America focused on COVID-19, its effects on mental health, and ways to cope as areas begin to open up again
  • Participating in Stamp Out Stigma’s Mental Health Month Twitter Chat on Thursday, May 27th from 1-2pm ET
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
The Trevor Project

Releasing its third annual National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health in mid-May, featuring brand new data around the impacts of COVID-19, mental health care disparities, discrimination, food insecurity, conversion therapy, and more. Trevor will share a social media toolkit prior to the release.

Other Activities

ViacomCBS is also bringing together 200+ leading brands, nonprofits, and cultural leaders for the first national Mental Health Action Day on Thursday, May 20th. The goal of Mental Health Action Day is to drive our culture from awareness to action by equipping folks with tangible tools that will help us all take an action for ourselves, our loved ones, and our community. If you haven’t already, there is still time for your organization to become a partner of this important initiative (click here to learn more).

We hope these resources help foster important discussions in your own life about how to support a happier, healthier, and more just future for people whose lives have been touched by mental illness. If you or someone you care about is struggling, it is never too late to reach out and find support. We are happy to help however we can – feel free to reach out to us at uwspiritlab@uw.edu.

 

Sincerely,

The University of Washington SPIRIT Lab

Translate »