As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, there are many ways that one can be an advocate for those who deal with mental illness on a daily basis. Depending on your comfort level, what mental health cause(s) you care about, and how you choose to show your support, the opportunities for doing so are numerous and, in writing this article, I hope to show you just a few ways in which you can volunteer, share information, or simply show compassion this May. My hope in sharing some of these ways to educate, inform, and draw awareness to mental illness is to break down the stigma surrounding it one step and one breath at a time.
1. Volunteer for a Local Chapter of a Mental Health Organization/Nonprofit
Many mental health focused nonprofits and organizations have local chapters, such as National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, and most have forms you can fill out on their website to serve as a volunteer. The opportunities to volunteer can be anything from attending events as a representative to answering calls through a helpline. If you decide to fill out a volunteer form, a coordinator will contact you and ask how you would like to get involved. Other ways to be involved in these organizations is to purchase a membership and, in this way, you can be aware of upcoming events and know what's being done within the organization/nonprofit to benefit those dealing with mental illness.
2. Share Mental Health Resources on Your Social Media Accounts
If you are interested in being an advocate, but don’t have the time or money to commit to volunteering or becoming a member of an organization, you can always share mental health resources from reputable sources, mental health blogs, and mental health professionals on social media. There is so much useful information out there and, by sharing this information to your feed, you can help educate and make one more person aware of what mental illness entails and how to get help.
3. Educate Yourself
Another great way to spend Mental Health Awareness Month is by taking the time to do your own research and educate yourself on mental illness. Whether it be by reading research articles, stories in popular journals or publications, or by speaking with someone you know who has mental illness (as long as they are comfortable discussing it), all avenues for informing and educating yourself will aid in making you a better mental health ally. Consider doing research on specific mental illnesses that people you know or are close to deal with so that you are more aware of what they may go through on a daily basis and can better be prepared to help or provide support when needed.
4. Donate/Hold a Fundraiser for a Mental Health Organization
If you have the means to, you could donate to a mental health organization of your choice this May or host a Facebook fundraiser to benefit a nonprofit. In doing so, the funds will go towards more resources and more research in the mental health field and help find new ways of treatment and recovery.
5. Read and Watch Mental Health Focused Content
This opportunity may be one of the easiest ones to participate in. Through watching and reading mental health focused series, movies, or books, you can show your support and enjoy a new media experience in the process. Some great books to get you started can be found in one of our latest articles. Examples of shows and movies that discuss mental illness include Perks of Being a Wallflower, Words on Bathroom Walls, Beautiful Boy, and Euphoria. Some of these could be considered triggering for those who deal with mental illness, but all show mental illness in a raw and realistic light and could be useful in informing people who are not as educated as to how it can affect an individual.
6. Be There for a Friend or Family Member
During Mental Health Awareness Month (and every other month), take the time to be there for your friends and/or family members who deal with mental illness. You don’t need to provide advice or take the place of a mental health professional but lending a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen can be the difference between a good and a bad day for someone with mental health issues. Letting your friend or family member know you are there for them and reaching out to them to ask how they are doing mean a lot more than you could ever know.
7. Share Your Personal Story
If you are comfortable doing so, and are a mental health warrior, sharing your personal story during Mental Awareness Month could bring attention to how many people deal with mental illness and show those you know that mental illness is not just a set of statistics, but something that affects real people. Sharing a personal story can be very freeing and powerful. If you are comfortable enough in your mental health journey to tell your truth, then this month is the time to do it. Not everyone may be accepting but all that matters is that those who are accepting, are the ones that truly matter and will be there for you when you need them. Remember that you are uniquely you and your story shows your strength and resiliency.
All of these ways to show support during Mental Health Awareness Month are easy to do and will help in lessening the stigma around mental illness. Being an ally and an advocate for those who are dealing with mental illness and showing compassion, kindness, and understanding are small steps, but they can make a huge difference in someone's life.
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