May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It was started by Mental Health America in 1949. Since 1949 The Center for Disease Control declares one in five of our youth between ages thirteen and eighteen have mental illness. Did you know that suicide is the second leading cause of death for ten to twenty-four year-olds?
The theme of Mental Health America this year is Turn Awareness into Action. Here are some concrete steps to support mental health so everyone can thrive:
What Can Parents Do?
- Discard all your expired medicines outside your home. Lock your medicine cabinet so your current medications aren’t found.
- Similarly, hide your liquor and don’t let your kids entertain unless YOU are home.
- Drug dealers prey online as well. Don’t let your child order medications from Canada or from another source such as Snapchat. Therapist Dr. Laura Berman’s son Sam thought he was ordering Xanax, but the tainted pill delivered to his mailbox contained fentanyl and he instantly died. Let your Dr. order the meds or give you the script to your local pharmacy.
- Kids rely on technology, but it isn’t always accurate. For more in-depth answers, invite them to talk to you. Don’t be judgmental. Know the effects of drugs and alcohol and why they are harmful. Let your child know your position on drugs and of course, model your behavior as well. Although marijuana is legal in about half of the United States, it can produce psychosis if used frequently as it is much stronger than in the past. For more suggestions on talking to your kids, see my facebook group “Kids on Drugs: Signs, Risks and How to Get Help!“
What Can Your School Do?
- SAMHSA has a tool kit that can be downloaded for free: It contains key messages and themes for each week in May. It has promotional materials designed for your audiences and media channels. It also has messaging that encourages acceptance and support for people living with a mental illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in five high school students report serious suicidal ideation and 37% report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.The diagnosis of ADHD (Attention Defensive Hyperactivity Disorder) has risen, and according to the World Health Organization, anxiety and depressive disorders are among the most common mental health conditions world-wide.
- Schools should be taking a strong stand against vaping, alcohol, and use of smoking.
What Your Community Can Do
- Teens and young adults sometimes would rather talk to their age group than their parents. Find a group for your child led by a therapist, one who knows cognitive behavioral therapy. a form of talk therapy that helps individuals manage mental health conditions and emotional concerns by changing unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors. Workbooks may be given to the group for homework.
- The community groups can reinforce the 5 C’s of Mental Health: connection, compassion, coping, and community care by spreading these goals. #MHAM2025.
- To symbolize mental health awareness, organizations are encouraged to wear green during the month of May to raise awareness and support. The color signifies renewal, hope and vitality and is flattering to most palettes.
Wesley Cullen Davidson
Wesley Cullen Davidson is an award-winning freelance writer and journalist specializing in parenting. Currently, she is targeting her writing about recovery to parents whose children have substance abuse disorders.