As we embark on our Throwback Thursday journey for Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we are excited to look back on the history of this month and what it means.  

Mental Health Awareness Month was created in 1949 by MHC’s national affiliate, Mental Health America to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of good mental health for everyone. MHA’s 2024 Mental Health Month campaign is focused on knowing “Where to Start” when it comes to taking care of your own well-being. Learn more and download the toolkit here: https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month

This May, Mental Health America will help you: 

• LEARN how modern life affects mental health with new resources to navigate our changing world. 
• ACT by building your coping toolbox so you can manage stress, difficult emotions, and challenging situations. 
• ADVOCATE to improve mental health for yourself, your friends and family, and your community. 

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signs a Proclamation each year declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month calling upon the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools in Connecticut to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health.  

He reiterates his support for mental health support, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions. 

For Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) brought back our successful Let’s Face It campaign. Through Let’s Face It, we aim to break the stigma across the state by raising awareness around mental health and available resources and sharing unique stories of Connecticut residents overcoming challenges.  

All month long, MHC will dedicate the days of the week to a specific theme as that day’s conversation starter. MHC will increase awareness and access to resources by sharing essential tools, wellness tips, and motivational posts from community experts, including Yoga In Our City and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Additionally, each week, members of the community will lead the conversation, sharing their story and an intimate peak into how they face life’s challenges.

ConnectiCare, a leading health plan in Connecticut since 1981, has signed on once again as MHC’s presenting sponsor, and is offering a generous matching donation of $23,000. As a longtime partner of MHC, ConnectiCare chose to support the campaign as a part of its ongoing commitment to creating healthier futures for Connecticut residents. Stamford Health, Wells Fargo, Liberty Bank, DATTCO, and Lockton Companies have also signed on as top-level sponsors. The campaign is supported by more than a dozen community organizations and local businesses.

With mental health becoming a priority in all areas of our lives, from home to the workplace to school to our communities, MHC wants Connecticut residents to know that everyone’s journey to health and wellness is different. Knowing you are not alone, that there is no one way to respond to life’s challenges, especially stigma, and having the resources to get help is critical.

The mission of the campaign is simple yet profound: to foster a greater understanding of the unique and diverse journeys individuals undertake in managing their mental health. By doing so, we hope to create a safer and kinder Connecticut.  

Your support not only fuels our awareness campaign but also supports MHC’s life-changing mental health services, education, and advocacy efforts. Together, we can make a lasting impact on mental health awareness in Connecticut. 

Join us in creating a kinder and safer Connecticut by joining in on the Mental Health Awareness Month celebration!  

The city of Waterbury also recognized Mental Health Awareness Month 2024!

Give Back  

Make a one-time donation or start a fundraiser.

Spread the news  

Share our posts @mentalhealthct or search Mental Health Connecticut  

History provides us with valuable insights into the progress we’ve made and the challenges we’ve overcome. By immersing ourselves in the past, we foster a deeper comprehension of the trajectory that has molded our current existence. 

Join us each day in May to hear from community partners, staff, and MHC participants on how they #FaceIt. View past posts here.  

Looking for resources or support in CT but don’t know where to start? Visit MHC’s Resource Directory at https://www.mhconn.org/education/resources/