Friday, October 15, 2021

October is Mental Health Awareness Month


Every October is Mental Health Awareness Month. An important part of Mental Health Awareness is workplace mental health. According to Mental Health America, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of mental illness among adults was on the rise. In 2017-2018, 19% of adults experienced a mental illness, an increase of 1.5 million people over last year’s dataset. According to Harvard Business Review, almost 60% of employees have never spoken to anyone at work about their mental health status. Mental Health conversations are becoming more normalized in the workplace and spreading awareness will help eliminate the mental health stigma. 


According to this CDC Mental Health and Stress in the Workplace Information Toolkit, Poor mental health and stress can negatively affect employee:

• Job performance and productivity.

• Engagement with one’s work.

• Communication with coworkers.

• Physical capability and daily functioning


Here is a link filled with resources for employees that help normalizes the mental health conversation in the workplace. If you would like spread awareness via social media, here is a link to graphics to post on your platform!


See below for the mental health information we put in our 2021 October ENews:

Mental Health Awareness Week (First week of October)- Started in 1990 by The United States Congress and observed the first week of every October, this week is dedicated to spreading awareness and education on mental illness. Mental health is a huge part of overall health and should be a priority for everyone, whether you have a mental health condition or not. 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year. 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. With numbers like these, it is imperative that we continue to spread awareness & to let each person know of the help available.  

World Mental Health Day (October 10)- Since 1992, World Mental Health Day is a day celebrated in over 150 countries worldwide to educate, advocate against stigma, and bring awareness of mental health education and available resources for help in communities. Many online events and resources are available, including the This Is My Brave Virtual Live Stream with poetry, music, storytelling, and more from people living with mental health conditions or who have been affected by a loved one’s mental health condition.  


Please be sure to check out the additional information listed below to continue your awareness on mental health. 


Additional Information

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