“Mind your health” – Recognizing mental health in May

This May marks the 65^th anniversary of Mental Health Month, which has been observed by Mental Health America (MHA) since 1949. The MHA’s 2014 monthly theme is “Mind your health,” and it’s all about building public awareness for mental health and wellness while learning about the complex connections between the mind and the body.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 26% of Americans ages 18 and older are currently living with a diagnosable mental health condition.¹ That’s about 1 in every 4 adults. In fact, NIMH says that mental health conditions "are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada." They can cause mood swings, anxiety, personality changes and more, and many times, the subtler emotional symptoms can be very tough to describe. The mood community at PatientsLikeMe is more than 33,000 strong, and in addition to tracking symptoms and donating personal data through detailed health profiles, members are sharing their experiences in the PatientsLikeMe forum. People are talking about everything from sleep habits and mood research to favorite emotional movies, and they're also sharing photos symbolizing how they feel. If you’ve been recently diagnosed, connect with others who are experiencing the same and know what you’re going through. And if you’re looking for a few ways to raise awareness for mental health this month, check out some of the MHA’s suggestions below.

• Screen yourself for four common conditions (Depression, anxiety, bipolar and post-traumatic stress)
• Follow the MHA’s great daily mental health challenge calendar for May
• Promote #mhmonth2014 on Twitter and Facebook
• Find an MHA affiliate near you to learn about events and awareness in May

Don’t forget keep an eye out for a new monthly interview series next week. PatientsLikeMe member Steubenville will be sharing her experience with bipolar II in a three-part series, and part 1 will kick off Mental Health Month. Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 later on this summer!  Share this post on twitter and help spread the word for Mental Health Month.