Skip to content
Contact
All posts

What is Mental Health Awareness Week?

Picture of Stonewater Recovery By   ·  2 minute read
We all know that we should take care of our mental health throughout the year. But with Mental Health Awareness Week, you can join a focused effort on promoting mental health and mental health awareness. During the first full week of October, various institutions strengthen their efforts to educate and increase awareness about important mental health. To learn more about celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week, contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center today at 662.373.2828.

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health is crucial for everyday life. It is essential to nurture the vital skills each person needs to cope in life. Remaining positive can be difficult without focusing on your needs and overall mental health. The consequences of neglecting your mental health can be severe. Many people turn to drugs and alcohol for a short-term escape from their problems. Unfortunately, this behavior opens the door for more severe issues, such as addiction.

Importance of Mental Health Awareness

Being aware of mental health issues and available mental health treatment is not only crucial for those already suffering from mental health conditions. Everyone is at risk of developing mental health conditions throughout their lives. So everyone needs to gain an understanding of mental health issues. Some of the valuable benefits of mental health awareness include:
  • Prevention of many mental conditions
  • Promoting a healthy mental mindset
  • Creating a supportive environment
  • Disseminating information about mental conditions
  • Advocating community support for members dealing with mental conditions

What Is It for and Who Created It?

The U.S. Congress established Mental Health Awareness Week, also called Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). They created this event in 1990 to recognize the efforts of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). During the week of this celebration, numerous organizations and mental health advocates in the U.S. come together for a single purpose. They sponsor various events, promoting community outreach, and increasing public health about mental conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. More importantly, they work together to emphasize the importance of self-care for your mental health. To this end, many activities take place during this particular week, including:
  • Educational sessions
  • Arts and music events
  • Movie nights
  • Health fairs
  • Benefit runs
  • Candlelight vigils
  • Prayer services
In the U.S., millions of people struggle from various mental conditions. However, most people do not receive proper mental health treatment due to the stigma associated with these conditions. And considering how social media affects teen mental health, it has never been more important to educate people about critical mental health issues. The primary goal of Mental Health Awareness Week is to do just that.

How Can You Take Part?

There are many ways to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week. Even when you are at home, you can contribute to increasing mental health awareness. For instance, you can hold virtual fundraising events on social media. Other things you can do include:
  • Learning about different mental health conditions
  • Hearing first-hand experiences of what it's like to live with a mental condition
  • Take a mental health screening and encourage others to do the same
  • Spread awareness and educate people on social media by posting images and articles about mental health
  • Create your social media posts to share on FB, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms.
  • Create stress kits, gratitude displays, a wall of kindness, or positive notes
You can also donate to mental health foundations and organizations. The time and money you spend by participating and contributing to these activities will make a difference.

At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, We're All in This Together

The task of educating and increasing mental health awareness is a long-year campaign. But with Mental Health Awareness Week, everyone can get involved in valuable activities at once. At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we do our part to educate the public, fight stigma, and inspire others. We offer a range of mental health treatment options for adolescent boys, including: If you want to know more about mental health, you can reach out to our team of experts at 662.373.2828!