First National Mental Health Action Day Will Encourage People to Take Mental Health Action

Amidst a dire mental health crisis more than a year into COVID-19, the Behind the Scenes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative joins more than 600 organizations teaming up to plan inaugural "Mental Health Action Day" on May 20. Learn more at www.MentalHealthActionDay.org.

Over the past two decades, suicide rates have risen and the COVID pandemic has accelerated the already dire crisis, giving way to what many mental health professionals have called the "second pandemic."

Though more people than ever are comfortable discussing mental health, finding effective resources and knowing how to get help remains a challenge. Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement to drive culture from mental health awareness to mental health action.

Partners will encourage people to take mental health action -- whether for themselves, for their loved ones, or to advocate for systemic changes. Resources and tools will be available for people to seek help in a myriad of ways from starting a meditation practice, learning how to support a friend, or advocating for change.

Lori Rubinstein, executive director of Behind the Scenes, says, "Our Mental Health Steering Committee views every day as Mental Health Action Day. We have spent the last year spreading the word to our industry about the free tools and resources available to everyone through our Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative (btshelp.org/mentalhealth). We welcome this opportunity to amplify the message about how important it is to take an active role in your mental health and to make people aware of the diverse resources available through all these committed organizations."

Mental Health Action Day is being planned in partnership with TaskForce, a cultural organizing agency that builds capacity for those taking on the most pressing challenges facing our communities, our nation, and our world. More on Mental Health Action Day and a current list of partners can be found at www.MentalHealthActionDay.org.