5 Ways to Celebrate Mental Health Every Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to talk about and prioritize our mental health. Each year, millions of people from across the country come together to raise awareness for mental illness and take action to better the help-seeking culture. 

Mental Health Awareness Month was first celebrated in 1949 by Mental Health America (MHA), formerly the Mental Health Association. In the 75 years since, the celebration has helped reduce stigma, innovate research, transform care, change policy, and even create holidays. In fact, in 2021, SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios launched Mental Health Action Day, an international movement of thousands of organizations and government agencies that seeks to shift the mental health culture from awareness to action. 

Recently, there has been a movement to rename Mental Health Awareness Month to Mental Health Month. The hope is that by neutralizing festivities and not focusing on awareness or action alone, more people can celebrate in a way that makes sense for them — and that helps to move the conversation forward. Today, it’s common for both names to be used somewhat interchangeably, though some people and organizations prefer one over the other.

While daily and monthly observances can help start or bring attention to important conversations, it’s equally as important to ensure that they continue throughout the year.

Here are five ways to celebrate Mental Health Month every month:

• Check-in on friends and family. Reaching out to those in your life both regularly and consistently is a great way to show you care. If you aren’t sure how to start, SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios and Active Minds created a new “stop, drop, and roll” for emotional support called A.S.K.: Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch. You can also learn from the Jed Foundation’s Seize the Awkward campaign, which features real-world stories from advocates like Tyler Posey and Megan Thee Stallion.

• Choose how to advocate. There are many ways to advocate for mental health, whether by supporting friends, sharing information online, or volunteering with local, state, or federal mental health organizations. Consider which type of advocacy works best for you, your interests, and your timeline. Remember that it’s okay to start and stop advocating for any reason or to advocate in multiple ways. You know yourself best, so advocate accordingly.

• Make short- and long-term goals. It can sometimes be hard to define success in advocacy, especially with all the victories and setbacks throughout the process. To stay on track, create personal goals to stay engaged. A great framework for this is SMARTIE (Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Relevant, Time-Bound, Inclusive, Equitable) goals, which can help make the process less intimidating.

• Share free resources. There are thousands of free resources worldwide that often go unnoticed. Spread the word about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, MHA’s mental health screening tests, or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) treatment locator. Remember to share trusted and vetted resources. If you aren’t sure, ask a mental health professional, organization, or advocate.

• Stay updated. Each day, there are incredible advancements in the mental and behavioral health field. In April 2024, the Biden-Harris administration and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the National Strategy on Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan. Stay up-to-date by watching the news, joining newsletters, and reading the You Matter blog.

Through these actions and countless others, we can all make a difference and ensure that mental health issues are talked about as often as they are felt across the country — 24/7/365.