May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
As we at Thrive focus on raising awareness in our communities,
Let’s celebrate those who listen and those whose voices are heard
Let’s celebrate our continued effort to speak up for and with, those struggling to reach out.
“The more conversations we have, the more myths we can bust and barriers we can break down”
This past year has tested our strength and resiliency, with an increase in people suffering from depression and anxiety. Let’s highlight the work we do at Thrive and focus this month on some new and creative targeted activities in support of May Mental Health Awareness Month.
The nation has pushed education on mental health to the forefront with COVID-19 and the effects of the pandemic related isolation on our country’s mental health as a whole. This past year, with the pandemic affecting our lives so dramatically, we have heard and witnessed an influx of people, talking freely of recognizing mental health symptoms, direction on steps in developing coping skills, encouragement to make healthy choices, and providing resources to connect those affected with a variety of support systems. The pandemic opened a new dialogue and a new found freedom to speak out with vigilance about the effects of the pandemic on mental health. It seems to be addressed frequently on every news channel and talk show.
Let’s keep the momentum going, continuing to talk about it, educating the communities we live in, and moving forward with the knowledge you have to offer as a Thrive team member. Let’s make a pledge to try something new to increase awareness this month of May 2021.
I was thrilled to see the following just recently. It is so encouraging to hear those in the limelight talk about their struggles with mental health openly to remind people they are not alone.
Kicking The Stigma:
Irsays, Colts To Host Virtual Fundraiser
For Mental Health Treatment, Education
The 2021 Kicking The Stigma virtual fundraiser and auction will be held May 3-6. A roundtable hosted by Carson Daly of NBC’s The Today Show and The Voice, with NFL players Darius Leonard (Colts), Hayden Hurst (Atlanta Falcons) and Solomon Thomas (Las Vegas Raiders) and Darren Waller (Raiders) sharing their personal experiences with mental health.
Although we are dedicated to continue following our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and Visitor Policy, social distancing and wearing masks, we can still plan some activities in our community or facility to promote awareness, reaching out and providing resources. All of the ideas below would require creativity for social distancing outdoors. You may already have some great ideas of your own in progress.
Plan a picnic/grill out in a park
Plan or attend a Mental Health Awareness Walk
Ask your local paper or radio station to recognize May Mental Health Awareness Month with an article on mental health
Challenge your team at your facility for each staff to reach out to one person in the community with a food item and a card. Create a pledge flag banner with the names of those who participated and their pledge, attaching to the banner.
Download NAMI’s logos, information to share and graphics with the theme, “You Are Not alone”
Have an ice cream social with all the fun toppings, socializing outdoors
Visit the Mental Health America website for awareness ideas
Plan Zoom meetings for residents’ friends or family sharing mental health awareness info
Plan an all Thrive team members across the state to wear their Mental Health Awareness t-shirts on the same day for connectivity in the awareness effort. Take a picture of your group and send it to Jody so it will be shared with the whole company.
Let’s keep on talking about mental health and what we do at Thrive, building awareness, until mental health conversations are as comfortable to have as conversations about our winter colds, high blood pressure, flu symptoms, thyroid issues or any physical ailment.
Thrive Team has an important job to do in mental health and one you are all dedicated to. You make a difference!