Next time you find yourself among a crowd, take a moment to survey the scene and think about this simple, yet startling fact from the National Institute of Mental Health – In any given year, one-fourth of adults in the U.S. suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder.

In short, mental illness is everywhere, and chances are great that it has recently impacted you or someone close to you. That is why this May, Cenpatico, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and many other organizations throughout the nation are celebrating National Mental Health Month.

This month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is encouraging everyone to seek out events in their respective communities throughout the country to raise awareness of mental illness.

Mental Health America (MHA), which began recognizing ‘May is Mental Health Month’ back in 1949, encourages Americans to be proactive about maintaining mental health with its “Live Your Life Well” campaign. “Live your Life Well” is a national public education campaign designed to help people handle the stresses of daily life and, in doing so, enhance the individual’s and family’s overall quality of life. The campaign includes various mental health-related fact sheets in addition to “10 research-based, straight-forward tools and ways to apply them in every day life.”

In addition to advocacy groups, governors, mayors and other local, state and federal officials are joining the push to raise additional awareness and support for the mentally ill this month.

“Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall physical health and emotional well-being, and caring for your mind as well as your body is good for your overall health and vital for success in personal life, at work and at school,” New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said in his proclamation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month in his state.

Through fund-raising, volunteering and other avenues available to you, Cenpatico encourages everyone to help our nation raise awareness of mental illness this May.

This entry is filed under News.