2016 Mental Health Awareness Week
October 2-8, 2016 is Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week is October 2-8, an annual event where advocates across the nation will come together to spread awareness about the importance of mental health and to speak out against the stigma around mental illness. Thanks to NAMI’s efforts in 1990, U.S. Congress established the first full week in October for the observance.
Each Mind Matters developed a toolkit with valuable resources that can be customized to raise awareness in your community and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health challenges. Download the 2016 Mental Health Awareness Week Toolkit and share with us how you use the materials by tagging @EachMindMatters on social or send us an email at [email protected]
The toolkit includes:
- Social media guide filled with ways to help you promote mental health awareness on your social channels
- Daily email messages: During Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) share daily emails with your network to communicate the importance of mental health. Each Mind Matters drafted email messages that you can personalize with local resources, county contacts, upcoming event info, or a logo.
To make it easy, we’ve highlighted in yellow suggestions on how to customize the email. The first email we recommend sharing the week prior to Mental Health Awareness Week (Oct. 2-8) to notify your community of the observance and pique their interest. The other emails are drafted for Monday – Friday of MHAW and include information, tips and action items.
- Mental Health Support Guide: a brochure providing tips to help reduce stigma and find support for a mental health challenge. The guide is accompanied with recommendations for distributing this new resource.
- Lime Green Ribbon Awareness Activity Instructional Guide: A new activity this year encourages you to raise awareness by tying a lime green ribbon around street lights, trees, etc. in your community.
- Editable posters you can customize in PowerPoint to include your logo and local event information