IT'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH!

As many of you may know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month, Stamp Out Stigma will be highlighting the importance of speaking openly about mental health. While this is important to address year-round, emphasizing mental health awareness during May provides a time for people to come together and help reduce mental illness stigma.

By following four simple steps, you can bring the deserved attention to Mental Health Awareness Month and help improve the lives of millions of Americans living with a mental illness.

Step 1 of 4: Know Your Mental Wellness One of the easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition is to take an online screening test. Be sure to seek help if you suspect you have a mental health condition, and encourage friends and family to do the same. Step 2 of 4: Participate in #SOSChats Through Stamp Out Stigma Twitter Chats, people are encouraged to share their personal stories, educate others, and take the Pledge to Stamp Out Stigma surrounding mental health and addiction. #SOSChats create an opportunity for people to talk openly about mental illness and substance use disorder stigma. Stamp Out Stigma will be hosting an #SOSChat every week during Mental Health Awareness Month!

• #SOSChat May 7th at 1:00 p.m. EDT with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (@DBSAlliance)

• #SOSChat May 11th at 1:00 p.m. EDT with Patrick Kennedy and the Kennedy Forum (@PJK4brainhealth, @KennedyForum)

• #SOSChat May 20th at 2:00 p.m. EDT with Mental Health America (@MentalHealthAm)

• #MHMchat May 29th at 2:00 p.m. EDT with a collaboration of mental health stakeholders, including National Council, Give An Hour, Change Direction, Active Minds, Mental Health First Aid, and Aetna (@NationalCouncil, @GiveAnHour, @signsforchange, @Active_Minds, @mhfirstaidusa, @AetnaNews)

Step 3 of 4: Turn Facebook Green Show your support and help bring attention to Mental Health Awareness Month by changing your profile picture to the green Stamp Out Stigma circle. Lime green is the color of mental health awareness, so let’s turn Facebook green this May! Step 4 of 4: Talk About It Millions of people have joined us to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance use disorders since we started the Stamp Out Stigma initiative one year ago. Help us continue educating and motivating ourselves and others by talking about it. Your story could change a life. Do you know how to talk about mental health? Learn more here: http://stampoutstigma.com/get-educated.html Most importantly, our goal for all of us remains: TALK ABOUT IT. YOUR STORY COULD CHANGE A LIFE.