Mental Health Awareness Month 2021

From Paul Gionfriddo
President and CEO Of MHA
PDF Download

During the past year, we at Mental Health America have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the numbers of people experiencing mental health problems. In November 2020, the CDC reported that 44 percent of us were dealing with either depression or anxiety. While historically data shows us that 1 in 5 adults will experience a mental health problem, these days it certainly feels like it’s 5 in 5.

Nearly 3 million people have taken an MHA mental health screening during the past twelve months. A million were experiencing  depression and hundreds of thousands more were experiencing either anxiety or psychosis. Young people are bearing the brunt
of the pandemic, but these mental health impacts cross all generations.

But let us not only focus on dark facts. Let’s shine a little light in the darkness. This year’s Mental Health Month toolkit – based once more on the theme of Tools 2 Thrive (especially during a pandemic) – will help us do just that.

Six topics comprise the toolkit – Adapting After Trauma and Stress, Processing Big Changes, Getting Out of Thinking Traps, Radical Acceptance, Taking Time for Yourself, and Dealing with Anger and Frustration. Together, these tools help us develop and employ the resiliency that will take us to brighter days.

When MHA started Mental Health Month in 1949, we did so to communicate the importance of mental health to overall health. Our insights about the factors that lead to mental health for all – including embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all we do – have grown since then. There are things we must do to change the world around us. And there are things we can do for ourselves along the way.

This year, thousands will celebrate this month by using this toolkit. Thank you for joining the effort. Thank you for doing your part to promote mental health for all. And thank you for taking care of your own mental health needs, too.

Together, we live and thrive.
Paul