Mental Health Month Blog Party – May 18

May is Mental Health Month, and on May 18, bloggers will come together to educate the public about mental health, decrease stigma about mental illness, and discuss strategies for making lasting lifestyle and behavior changes that promote overall health and wellness.

You can see some of the great blogs that contributed to the event at our Mental Health Blog Day Round Up post.

Event Background
Mental health: it’s the way your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors affect your life. Having good mental health helps you make better decisions and deal with daily stressors at home, at work, and in your family. Sometimes, you may need help from a professional to take care of your mental health, especially if feelings or problems seem beyond your control.

Congress designated May as Mental Health Month in 1949 to illustrate the importance of mental health issues to the overall health and well-being of American citizens. 

How can you help people recognize the importance of good mental health, overcome stigma, and seek out professional mental health services when needed?

  • Join us on May 18 to share your thoughts on mental health issues, lifestyle, and behavior on your blog or website. We’ll update this blog throughout the day with highlights of what people are writing about and sharing.
  • Share stories, tips, and personal experiences about mental health to reinforce the shared challenges we face when it comes to managing our overall health and wellness.
  • Get resources about mental health, mind/body health, and family well-being at:
    www.apahelpcenter.org
    www.youtube.com/apahelpcenter
    www.ymca.net/healthyfamilyhome
  • Follow @apahelpcenter on Twitter for updates about the blog party and mind/body health.
  • Post an “I’m Blogging for Mental Health” badge on your blog and help spread the word about the importance of mental health. Copy the code below and paste it into your website to display the badge.

 APA Blog Day Badge

 

Some facts about mental health:

  • One in four Americans experiences a mental health disorder every year, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.
  • Chronic stress can affect both our physical and psychological well-being by causing a variety of problems including anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.
  • A 2009 poll by the American Psychological Association found that 75 percent of adults report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress (24 percent extreme, 51 percent moderate) and nearly half report that their stress has increased in the past year (42 percent).
  • A 2008 survey by Harris Interactive and the American Psychological Association found that 25 percent of Americans report they do not have adequate access to mental health services and 44 percent either do not have mental health coverage or are not sure if they do.
  • Research recently published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior (Vol. 41, No. 2) finds that 68 percent of Americans do not want someone with a mental illness marrying into their family and 58 percent do not want people with mental illness in their workplaces.

21 Responses to “Mental Health Month Blog Party – May 18”

  1. Brian MacDonald, on May 3rd, 2010 at 4:30 pm Said:

    Thanks for the badge – this is a great way to spread the word about mental health.

  2. Laura Wells, on May 5th, 2010 at 6:56 am Said:

    Hi Luana. I think I’ll get NARSAD into the fold on this – this time my kudos to you – it’s a great idea!

  3. ymyb, on May 5th, 2010 at 7:50 am Said:

    Hi Laura,
    We’d love to have NARSAD participate. You have such great research to tap into and could provide a complementary perspective to APA practitioners and scientists.
    Luana

  4. Mental Health Month: Live Your Life Well « Dr. Kathleen Young: Treating Trauma in Chicago, on May 7th, 2010 at 8:41 pm Said:

    [...] May 7, 2010 · Leave a Comment May is Mental Health Month.  Let’s spend this month educating the public about mental health issues, decreasing stigma about mental illness and discussing ways to approach overall health and healing. Check out these mental health facts via the American Psychological Association: [...]

  5. Dr. Deb, on May 18th, 2010 at 3:39 am Said:

    Will help get the word out and post a blog on this.

  6. Just Talkin’ Tuesday 05.18.10: How did you first share your Postpartum Mood Disorder story? | My Postpartum Voice, on May 18th, 2010 at 5:16 am Said:

    [...] the APA’s Mental Health Blog Party day and my weekly installment of Just Talkin’ [...]

  7. Today We Blog For Mental Health | Your Mind Your Body, on May 18th, 2010 at 5:24 am Said:

    [...] Blog Party [...]

  8. Mental Health Month Blog Party: Fight for Your Wellness « Third of a Lifetime, on May 18th, 2010 at 7:40 am Said:

    [...] } This post is offered as part of the Mental Health Month Blog Party today, May 18, 2010. There are links to basic mental health resources and more information about [...]

  9. Lisa, on May 18th, 2010 at 7:57 am Said:

    You’ve inspired me to take the step I’ve been comtemplating for weeks now. I’m going to blog about my struggle with PPD today!

  10. Melissa Mashburn, on May 18th, 2010 at 7:58 am Said:

    I have been blogging for Mental Health Awareness all month, it is nice to connect with others and we all do it together today.

  11. APA’s Mental Health Blog Party « All Work & No Play Make Mommy Go Something Something, on May 18th, 2010 at 9:27 am Said:

    [...] May 18th, is designated as APA’s Mental Health Blog Party Day .  Here’s an excerpt from the website: May is Mental Health Month, and on May 18, [...]

  12. Mental Health Month Blog Party: Sorry I’m (Fashionably) Late « You Have It Too…, on May 18th, 2010 at 11:52 am Said:

    [...] PDRTJS_settings_1843657_post_90 = { "id" : "1843657", "unique_id" : "wp-post-90", "title" : "Mental+Health+Month+Blog+Party%3A+Sorry+I%27m+%28Fashionably%29+Late", "item_id" : "_post_90", "permalink" : "http%3A%2F%2Fjbersin.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F18%2Fmental-health-month-blog-party-sorry-im-fashionably-late%2F" } Blogging for #mhm2010! “Having good mental health helps you make better decisions and deal with daily stressors at home, at work, and in your family.” ~ APA’s description of mental health on their blog [...]

  13. Domenique Thornton, on May 18th, 2010 at 12:06 pm Said:

    Thanks for the opportunity to to celebrate Mental Health Awareness month by telling everyone to contact their federal legislators to ask them to continue the extension of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) by calling the Congress at 202 224-2131 in the Mental Health Association BLOG. See website at http://www.mhact.org.

  14. Jen, on May 18th, 2010 at 2:34 pm Said:

    I blog about my mental health every day. I talk about my struggle with depression.

  15. Kris, on May 18th, 2010 at 2:49 pm Said:

    Love the blog carnival and added the badge to my blog.

  16. Chloë StewART, on May 18th, 2010 at 5:15 pm Said:

    Glad to see this blog carnival!

    I am a Visual Artist forging a way through life, brush stroke by brush stroke, whilst voicing the truth of the reality of Bi-Polar Disease in my Art.

    I am looking for opportunities in the realm of mental health chrities/organizations. Does anyone has any ideas about opertunities? Or perhaps may need my Art for a charity function, gallery or museum event, or anything else…?? I send my art globally, and am based in London.

    I am able to be reached at: almostfamouschloe@live.com

    My website is http://www.wix.com/ChloeStewART/ChloeStewART

    Facebook:
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chloe-StewART/293988578050

    Have a wonderful day you all!

    Chloe :) ))

  17. Trusted.MD Network, on May 18th, 2010 at 6:20 pm Said:

    Mental Health Blog Party…

    In honor of today’s Mental Health Blog Party hosted at the American Psychological Association here are some quotes on the benefits of psychotherapy. So, read on and let’s stomp the stigma!…

  18. Bec, on May 18th, 2010 at 9:11 pm Said:

    I have blogged about sleep hygiene! http://bit.ly/cmg663

  19. Mental Health Blog Party | Mental Health News, on May 19th, 2010 at 2:46 am Said:

    [...] honor of today’s Mental Health Blog Party hosted at the American Psychological Association here are some quotes on the benefits of psychotherapy. So, read on and let’s stomp the [...]

  20. kenedy, on June 11th, 2010 at 2:16 pm Said:

    Thanksfor sharing this with us!I trulylike this objectand you are given here really a superbinformation.Thanks.Keep it up.keep up the high-qualityworks.keep blogging.

  21. A, on August 23rd, 2010 at 2:13 pm Said:

    Great post, Thanks for keeping us updated on this …

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