May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. This year the theme is More than Enough. The message is an opportunity for everyone to come together and remember the inherent value we each hold- no matter the diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background or ability. The National Alliance on Mental Illness wants every person out there know that if all you did was wake up today, that’s more than enough. No matter what, you are inherently worthy of more than enough life, love and healing. Showing up, just as you are, for yourself and the people around you is more than enough.
Did you know that 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and less than half of them receive treatment? Our surroundings play a significant role in shaping our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and overall health, and learning about the impact of our surroundings on our mental health is a valuable way to take control of our own well-being. This Mental Health Month, challenge yourself to examine your world and how it can affect your overall health. Look around, look within- from your neighbor to genetics, many factors come into play when it comes to our mental health.
Mental Health Awareness Month provides a perfect opportunity for all of us to shine a spotlight on spreading helpful mental health resources and information. Check out the information, resources, and tools we’ve provided to get started. At the library we have many resources that can help you look within and understand mental health. We have books year around. But this year we have partnered with Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness to provide you with more resources.
Mental Health America has created a 2023 Mental Health Month toolkit. It includes information about how an individual’s environment impacts their mental health, suggestions for making changes to improve and maintain mental well-being and how to seek help for mental health challenges.
National Alliance on Mental Illness has several ways you can get involved. Join the campaign by sharing their images and or sample posts to spread awareness. They encourage you to advocate, you can sign up for advocacy alerts to take action when opportunities arise in your community, volunteer you can get involved with your local NAMI, or apply to be a volunteer with their national helpline, and share your story. Write a blog: share your personal story with mental health. Your story can encourage and support to others with similar experiences and help promote understanding and empathy to those without mental illness.
Stop by the library this month to see our resources. If you are interested in the 2023 Mental Health Month toolkit make sure to stop by the information desk. They can get you access to the toolkit. Mental Health America also has screening tests. This online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. If you are interested in a screening we can get you on a computer to start the test. Remember you are more than enough this month and every month!
Sarah Jones is the Carlsbad Public Library executive director. Sarah can be reached by phone 575-885-6776 or by email at sejones@cityofcarlsbadnm.com. Visit the Carlsbad Public Library website at https://cityofcarlsbadnm.com/departments/carlsbad-public-library/.
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This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: May is Mental Health Awareness Month
