Navigating Mental Health Awareness Month

Since 1949, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month: a recognition of mental health and its impact throughout our country. The number of people seeking and receiving mental health services has increased significantly since 2020, as such services began to be covered by most health insurance plans. Yet despite efforts to expand the supply and distribution of health care professionals, demand for their services continues to grow. Online therapy providers have stepped in to address the need, but more than half of adults with a mental illness are not receiving treatment.

Considering the lingering effects of the pandemic, financial anxiety, increased social media consumption, and the ongoing substance abuse crisis, the current state of American mental health is worrisome. In fact, youth mental health is worsening, and the prevalence of mental illness among adults has been increasing as well, including the rate of suicidal ideation. In the workplace, burnout continues to be an issue, with half of employees in a 2024 survey saying they felt burned out in the past year.

With those facts in mind, how can we support our colleagues, friends, and family in May and beyond? How can we prepare for conversations about mental health at work, so everyone feels comfortable discussing this important topic? Below you’ll find some actions you can take, plus a curated list of reputable resources for further learning.