NMHA News Release: MIND Your Health: May Is Mental Health Month 2006
NMHA Promotes Mental Wellness and Overall Health for All Americans
May 2006 marks more than five decades of celebrating Mental Health Month. This year, the observance focuses on the mind-body connection through the promotion of mental wellness and overall health for all Americans, regardless of age or background.
“With more than 19 million Americans affected by anxiety disorders each year; and in wake of the unprecedented, devastating blow of Hurricane Katrina, ensuring mental wellness is more crucial than ever,”said Cynthia Wainscott, Acting CEO and President of National Mental Health Association (NMHA). “Mental Health Month provides an excellent opportunity to educate Americans on managing their positive mental health, encouraging individuals to balance both mind and body.”
To address the day-by-day demands of life and ever-growing pressures of American’s fast-paced, on-the-go lives, lengthy commutes, and daily stressors of balancing work and family, NMHA has developed a series of mental health tips and suggestions to help all Americans achieve physical and mental well-being.
These tips include:
Mind Your Stress: Tips for Managing Stress on the Job
Finding Your Balance: At Work and Home
10 Tips to Improve Mental Health in Older Adults
10 Tips for Improving Family Mental Health
Childhood Depression: Tips for Parents
Helping Children Grow Up Healthy: Tips for Working Parents
“Many people do not realize the toll stress can have on their lives or that mental health is key to overall health in general,” adds Wainscott. “Caring for both the mind and the body not only helps boost a person’s spirits but can help lead to a healthier, happier and more productive life.”
In addition to tips and suggestions, NMHA has produced a worksite organizer kit with materials in English and Spanish for employers, employees and other organizations that features educational programs, special events, activities and tip sheets. The Mental Health Month kit also provides materials for Childhood Depression Awareness Day (May 9), Children’s Mental Health Week (May 7-13) and Older Americans’ Mental Health Week (May 21-27), which are all observed during Mental Health Month.
For more information on May is Mental Health Awareness Month,
call 1-800-969-6642 or visit NMHA‘s website.