May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Embracing the Unexpected | Maree Dee is honored to present campaigns, share resources, and engage in discussions to make a difference. Each of us holds the potential to support someone in need, which includes ourselves. Will you show your support by participating in one or more of the activities below?
Ways to Participate in Mental Health Awareness Month
Here are several ways to get involved—
- Engage in a mental health awareness campaign
- Share a relevant post below about mental health
- Spread awareness by sharing supportive resources
- Use your social media platforms to discuss mental health openly.
- Initiate conversations about mental health with friends and family
- Reach out to someone who may be struggling
- Connect and follow us on social media for ongoing discussions on mental health.
- Be a supportive listener to someone in need.
- Offer prayers for individuals navigating mental health issues.
Before you go, let’s clarify the difference between mental health and mental illness. Understanding this contrast is crucial for fostering empathy and support.
Distinguishing Mental Health from Mental Illness
Mental health affects everyone! Mental health encompasses our overall well-being and how effectively we function in various aspects of life, including emotional stability, resilience, and coping with life’s challenges. Maintaining good mental health includes social support, self-care practices, and more.
Conversely, mental illness refers to diagnosable conditions that significantly impact an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, often causing distress and impairments in functioning. These conditions vary widely, from mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder to anxiety disorders,
schizophrenia, and more. Seeking appropriate treatment, which may include therapy, medication, or a combination of both, is crucial for managing mental illness effectively.
While mental health and mental illness are related, they are distinct concepts. Mental health pertains to our overall wellness, whereas mental illness refers to specific conditions that require specialized care.
How would you explain the distinction between mental health and mental illness?
How would you explain the distinction between mental health and mental illness? #mentalhealthawarnessmonth #mentalhealthawareness #embracingtheunexpected Click To TweetWhy Raise Awareness
It is crucial to address mental health openly, given that 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. Mental illness is one of our country’s most widespread health issues. Yet, we often talk about it in hushed tones or not at all. By raising awareness and fostering understanding, we will break down stigma, which will help foster empathy, support, and access to resources for those with a mental illness and their families.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Mental health challenges don’t solely impact the person with the illness. The entire family needs our support. #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mareedee Click To TweetJoin us at Embracing the Unexpected | Maree Dee in supporting Mental Health Awareness Month and making a difference in the lives of others.
Join Us on Social Media During Mental Health Awareness Month
We will talk and share about mental health each Wednesday in May on Facebook and Instagram.
Engage in a Campaign and Make a Difference!
Mental Health America
For Mental Health Month this year, Mental Health America encourages individuals to look around and within. From your neighborhood to genetics, many factors come into play when it comes to mental health conditions. Click here to learn more and help spread awareness.
National Alliance for Mental Illness
This year, NAMI is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with the Take the Moment campaign! Join NAMI this month in normalizing the practice of taking moments to prioritize mental health care without guilt or shame. Click here to learn more. #takethemoment #TakeaMentalHealthMoment
Mental Health Awareness—Borderline Personality Disorder
National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder is a resource for families, people in recovery, and professionals impacted by this illness. May is also BPD awareness month. Click here to visit the website and learn more.
Upcoming Talk | Mental Health
How to Help Someone in a Mental Health Crisis
As a caretaker of a loved one with mental health struggles, you often carry more than your fair share of the weight out of love. Sometimes, this can impede healing. Learn from our guest, Darcia Fuqua, how to introduce responsibility, accountability, and independence on the healing journey. She will pull from her experience in a mental hospital and walk us through scripture on what it means to “carry each other’s burdens.”
When you register, you will receive a link from Zoom and again on the day of the talk.
Meeting Time Saturday, June 01, 2024: 8 – 9:30 am (Pacific Time) | 9 – 10:30 am (Mountain Time) | 10 – 11:30 am (Central Time) | 11 am – 12:30 pm (Eastern Time)
Mental Health Caregiver Support
Embracing Faith & Mental Illness is a Christ-centered online community for people who care for someone with a mental illness. We have four unique ways for caregivers to participate. You choose what works best for you.
Firstly, a Monthly Mental Health Newsletter for Caregivers
Join our monthly newsletters for caregivers. These emails include mental health tips, resources, and more, delivered to your inbox on the first and fifteenth of each month. Plus, you’ll have access to a private mental health library filled with information, resources, top posts, and more, all in one place.
Secondly, a Private Facebook Group | Hosted by Maree Dee
Our private Facebook community is Christ-centered for people who care for someone with a mental illness. It is a safe place to express your concerns, ask questions, and seek support. We hope you will build relationships and find encouragement among people going through similar circumstances.
Thirdly, Real Talk, Real Support Zoom Call
Maree hosts 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸, 𝗥𝗲𝗮l 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 monthly via Zoom on the second Wednesday at 6:30 pm Mountain Time. Although it is an informal time to gather for prayer and support, the meetings generally center around a topic related to loving someone with a mental illness. You must be on the newsletter email list or part of our private Facebook group to receive the Zoom link.
Fourthly, Mental Health Zoom Presentations
On a quarterly basis, Maree offers caregivers in our community a Zoom presentation, where she strives to support, educate, and teach life-changing skills. To receive an invite, join our Embracing Faith & Mental Illness email list.
Mental Health Classes for Families
The National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder—NEA.BPD offers an incredible class called Family Connections. This course is for individuals who support someone with BPD or emotional dysregulation. You will learn about the disorder and skills that will make a difference in your family. Please click here for more information about this class. Maree is a trained Family Connections teacher and has proudly served as a board member for this incredible organization.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers an excellent class called Family to Family. This program is for family members, significant others, and friends of people living with mental illness. Please click here to learn more about it.
For additional resources on mental health, please click here.
Posts Related to Mental Health
Click the graphic to take you to the article.
Celebrating Mother’s Day is important even when your child has a mental illness. We must push beyond the challenges and see the benefits.
Are you one who jumps right in to help others? Perhaps there is a better way to share the burden with a loved one.
Will you join me, step up during May, and help with Mental Health Awareness? Let’s strike down those false beliefs.
You have tried everything to assist someone you care about. How do you help in the wait when your loved one won’t fight their battle?
Watch a video presentation about Mental Illness: How to Step in and Help a Family Like Mine. We all can do something to support.
We all can be a part of suicide prevention regardless of our training. You might be the one to save a life.
Do you ever feel ill-equipped to help? Did you know there is one thing everyone can offer someone with a mental illness?
Have you ever been given the privilege of caring for another human being? Find out today two ways to help you be a compassionate caregiver.
Have you ever tried to help someone you love in pain? You hope and pray they will at least know they are not alone in the struggle.
“Please, not again; I can’t listen to you talk about what might happen! Learn how to help someone with an anxiety disorder.
To read our ten top posts on mental health, click here.
Printable
Mental Health Awareness Month: How will you make a difference in the life of someone impacted by mental illness? Click To Tweet
It’s inspiring to see initiatives like yours raising awareness about mental health. By breaking the silence and stigma, we pave the way for better understanding and support. The resources and campaigns you’ve highlighted, like those from Mental Health America and NAMI, are invaluable in fostering this dialogue. Keep up the great work!