Mental Health Awareness Month

cover image for the four ways forward mental health awareness month toolkit

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national event to bring attention to the importance of mental health. The aim is to make more Americans aware of the mental-health and substance-abuse crisis gripping the country.

To help raise awareness in your community, we compiled a thorough toolkit filled with original content, publications and other learning materials for you to take advantage of throughout the month. Help us spread the word through awareness and advocacy!

Get Your Free Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit!

Mental Health Awareness Month is more than just an observance. It’s an opportunity to bring mental wellbeing into focus for yourself, your family and your friends. To help you do that this May and set a year-round precedent, we’re highlighting Four Ways Forward.

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Why is Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy So Important?

Despite recent strides in how our society approaches mental wellbeing, many Americans still lack access to the professional help they need. Just take a look at some of the staggering facts and figures about mental health and substance use in America:

  • One in five adults (57.8 million adults) in the U.S. experienced mental illness in 2021.
  • 46.3 million people aged 12 or over had a substance use disorder in 2021.
  • 47.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021.
  • 65.4% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2021.
  • 33.5% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2021 (19.4 million individuals).
  • Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 and the third leading cause of death among those aged 15-24 in the U.S.
  • 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition.
  • At least 4 million people in the U.S. provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue.
  • The average delay between symptom onset and treatment for mental illness is 11 years.
  • 3 million Americans live in recovery after some form of substance use challenge.
  • Three out of four people who experience addiction eventually recover.

How Can I Support Mental Health Awareness?

Here are three things you can do right now to help spread awareness and advocate to expand access to mental health and substance use care:

1. Contact your elected officials and urge them to address the behavioral health workforce shortage crisis.

2. Download and share the following graphics to show your support:

3. Download our free Four Ways Forward Mental Health Awareness Month toolkit.

More Mental Health Awareness Month Resources

States with Mental Health Month Proclamations

The Biden-Harris Administration published a proclamation on Mental Health Awareness Month, honoring the tens of millions of Americans living with mental health conditions and celebrating the loved ones and mental health professionals who are there for them every day. Check out the below map to see where governors are officially declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month across the country:

map of US states with mental health awareness month proclamations
Mental Health Resources

Learn about resources for accessing care:

  • FindTreatment.gov: The confidential and anonymous resource for people seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the U.S. and its territories.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, as well as best practices for professionals in the U.S.
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness: A national organization that provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.
  • The Trevor Project: 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ+ young people. Text, chat or call anytime to reach a trained counselor.

Learn more about increasing access to care: 

Learn about the behavioral health workforce shortage and the need for policy solutions: 

Learn more about substance use treatment: 

Learn more about achieving health equity: 

Take advantage of our learning opportunities:

Mental Health First Aid Resources

Learn more about Mental Health First Aid (MHFA):

Follow the National Council & MHFA

Follow the National Council on social media:

Follow Mental Health First Aid on social media: