National Mental Health Awareness Month 2024
By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Mental Health Awareness Month 2024 May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance that started all the way back in 1949 by Mental Health America to bring attention to the crucial nature of mental wellbeing. Across the United States, people and organizations raise awareness about the importance of mental health as well as mental health challenges that people face. About Mental Health According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health “includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood” (2024). Mental health can be compromised by biological, genetic, or environmental factors – or a combination of all three. For example, if someone is genetically predisposed to …