May Is Mental Health Month: Get Connected

May 03, 2008

For 60 years, a mental health community consisting of professionals, consumers, and advocates has made the month of May their opportunity to raise awareness about mental health and the many issues associated with it.

The theme for this year's Mental Health Month, as proposed by Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association), is "Get Connected." This emphasizes the importance of friends and family in getting the support that's needed to maintain good health, physical as well as mental and emotional.

The Mental Health America Get Connected page focuses on staying close to family and friends, to community, and to sources of professional help. It offers useful articles and material about building social supports, identifying and managing stress, ways to help children, and much more – even a free 2008 Mental Health Month poster you can download and print.

For help finding treatment, support groups, medication information, help paying for your medications, and other mental health-related services in your community, please see the Mental Health America Frequently Asked Questions. If you or someone you know is in crisis now, seek help immediately. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center or dial 911 for immediate assistance.

For Washington State, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has compiled a list of Washington State resources, which includes contact information for mental health system resources, including Medicare and Medicaid, along with information about advocacy and consumer-run organizations such as the Capital Clubhouse in Olympia.

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