World Mental Health Day 2021

World Mental Health Day was Sunday, October 10, 2021.. The day provides a timely reminder of the importance of taking care of our own and each other’s mental health. The stress and uncertainty of recent months and at this point years has taken its toll on many of us. It’s more important now than ever to discuss mental health care and let it be an open, caring, and honest topic.

Millions of Americans every year are living with a mental health condition. We all know one person or another who lives or even suffers from mental health issues, and whether directly or indirectly mental health affects us all. Whether it’s you, your sibling, your co-worker, your neighbor, we all have the duty to take the first step to help someone who is secretly suffering by being aware.

Raising awareness about mental health

Each year, during the first week of October, the National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) participants across the country to raise awareness of mental illness, the battle against discrimination and misinformation by providing support through Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW).

Even though mental health conditions are important to discuss yearly, it is crucial to bring it to the spotlight during MIAW so mental illness discussions can have dedicated time for mental health advocates to unify and share their thoughts and research regarding awareness of mental health care.

This year’s MIAW’s campaign is called, “Together for Mental Health,” aimed to call attention to the importance of advocating for greater care for people with serious mental illness (SMI). Throughout the week NAMI will be showing real stories and voices of people living with SMI and the need for better crisis response and mental health care.

What is considered SMI anyway?

Serious mental illness is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

Mental Illness Awareness Week runs from October 3–10 and coincides with additional related events:

• Tuesday, Oct. 5: National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding
• Thursday, Oct. 7: National Depression Screening Day
• Saturday, Oct. 9: NAMIWalks United Day of Hope
• Sunday, Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day

At CE Units we recognize Mental Illness Awareness Week for the entire month of October.

Here is a video by NAMI highlighting what it is like to live with borderline personality disorder told personally by someone dealing with it firsthand.

Borderline Personality Disorder – What I Wish People Knew

#Together4MH

#Mentalheathday

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