For nearly seven decades, May has marked the annual recognition of Mental Health Awareness month in the United States.  

The month is aimed to raise “awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families, and communities,” (youth.gov).  

A multiplicity of actions from the federal department of Health and Human Services, as well as efforts made by independent organizations have been aimed to achieve and broaden awareness.  

Successful federal action in bringing attention to the importance of mental health, and promoting acceptance and recovery include: the Community Mental Health Services block grant, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, and the Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Program.  

In conjunction, independent organizations select a new theme every year to concentrate focuses on improvement in a certain area of mental health. For example, this year the National Alliance on Mental Health is promoting the theme “CureStigma” and Mental Health America has centered their toolkit around the theme “Fitness #4Mind4Body.”  

For more information on how to participate in the month’s activities, visit youth.gov, nami.org, and mentalhealthamerica.net. Additionally, click back to thechscourier.com for the next installment of this ‘Mental Health Awareness’ series.