Behavioral Health Supports Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness.
One in five adults in the U.S experiences mental illness in 2021. Mental illness includes any mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder such as:
- Mood disorders like depression and bipolar
- Schizophrenia
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Personality disorder
- Anxiety disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder
If you are worried about your mental health or are worried about someone you know, there are resources and people out there who are willing to help, no matter what your situation is.
Talking about mental health helps promote acceptance and encourages people to seek help.
Whether we share resources, encourage others to seek help, or simply are there for someone when they need us, we instill hope and can help others to reach out when they need to most.
SAMHSA has developed a conversation guide (PDF | 98 KB) to support a friend or loved one by providing them with access to services for mental health or substance use. This guide helps start conversations respectfully and helps guide the friend or loved one to resources that could help.
A few Mental Health Facts from the National Council on Wellbeing and NAMI:
- 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.
- Three out of four people who experience addiction eventually recover.
- 3 million Americans live in recovery after some form of substance use challenge.
- Up to 65% of people living with serious mental illness experience partial to full recovery over time.
People can and do recover from mental illness. Recovering from mental illness includes not only getting better but achieving a full and satisfying life.
Mental Health Month Resources: