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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Note: All external hyperlinks are provided for your information and for the benefit of the general public. The Department of Health
Services does not testify to, sponsor, or endorse the accuracy of the information provided on externally linked pages.
Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, May 3-9
Childhood Depression Awareness Day (wear a green ribbon), May 5th
Children's Mental Health Awareness
Day May 7th
National Woman's Health Week, May 10-16
National Women's Check-up Day, May 11th
National Alcohol and Other Drug Related Birth Defects
Week, May 10-16
Older Americans Mental Health Week, May 24-30
read the DHS Focus Article: Health journaling for life (PDF, 54KB)
Mental Health Related Links
Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Wisconsin United for Mental Health (WUMH)
Wisconsin Family Ties
National Women’s Health Week
What is National Women’s Health Week?
In 2006, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services launched an annual national initiative
called "National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day." Awareness Day is designated as a day in May of each year to coincide with May Is Mental Health
Month. This day presents an opportunity for children's mental health initiatives within SAMHSA to promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery,
and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families.
Why celebrate National Women’s Health Week?
It is important to celebrate National Women’s Health Week to remind women that taking care of themselves is essential to living longer, healthier and
happier lives. Women are often the caregivers for their spouses, children and parents and forget to focus on their own health. But research shows that
wh en women take care of themselves, the health of their family improves. During National Women’s Health Week it is important to educate our wives, mothers,
grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and girlfriends about the steps they can take to improve their health and prevent disease. After all, when women
take even the simplest steps to improve their health, the results can be significant and everyone will benefit.
When is National Women’s Health Week?
The 10th annual National Women’s Health Week will kick off on Mother’s Day, May 10, 2009 and will be celebrated until May 16, 2009. National Women’s
Check-Up Day will be Monday, May 11, 2009.
Where is National Women’s Health Week celebrated?
Across America—in communities, neighborhoods, towns, cities, counties, the Internet, hospitals and health centers, businesses, schools, places of worship,
recreation centers, and wherever else people choose to celebrate women’s health.
Who can participate in National Women’s Health Week?
Anyone who wants to help make women’s health a top priority can become a partner, including:
- Local and national health organizations
- Women’s groups
- Local and national businesses
- Social service agencies
- Local, state, and federal governments
- Media organizations
- Libraries
- Schools
For more information about National Women’s Health Week activities, visit the Web site at www.womenshealth.gov/whw
or call (800) 994-9662 (TTY: (888) 220-5446).
Children's Mental Health Awareness Week (May 3-9)
Mental health is central to the health and well-being of children. During Mental Health Month, observe Children's Mental Health Week by spreading the
word that mental health is fundamental to children's overall health and development.
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
Thursday, May 7th
Why was May 7 selected as the date for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day?
Awareness Day is scheduled to build on long-standing “May Is Mental Health Month” and “Children’s Mental Health Week” traditions of mental health and
family organizations. May Is Mental Health Month was first celebrated by Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association) 50 years
ago as a way to further elevate awareness of children’s mental health. Children’s Mental Health Week was established by the Federation of Families for
Children’s Mental Health. By holding Awareness Day on May 7, children’s mental health initiatives and programs will have the opportunity to partner with
the numerous family and mental health organizations that are holding events during this time. In particular, we see substantial opportunities for children’s
mental health initiatives to partner with their local statewide family network organizations. These organizations have been collaborating with the Federation
of Families on Children’s Mental Health Week events for the past 11 years, and they will be an invaluable resource for Awareness Day.
Children Mental Health Resources:
Systems of Care
Child & Family Web Guide
Children's Mental Health Matters
The Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH)
Zero to Three (National Organization)
Birth to Three Program (DHS)
Maternal and Child Health Hotline Public Health Information And Referral Services For Women, Children & Families
WI Council on Children and Families (WCCF)
WI Family Ties
Women's Health Week (May 10 - 16)
Women in Wisconsin are generally healthy, but there are always opportunities to improve. This week women are being encouraged to take simple steps
for a longer, healthier, and happier life. Simple things, like adding more fruits and vegetables into their daily diet can have significant results.
Its Your Time: Get Inspired. Get Healthy.
Other simple steps to start living a healthier life:
Older American's Mental Health Week (May 24 - 30)
Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are not a normal part of aging, and there is no reason that older adults cannot live full, enriched, and healthy
lives. For older adults who do suffer with a mental illness, treatment options are available and effective. Recent studies demonstrate that 80 percent
of older adults recovered from depression with appropriate treatment; they benefited from treatments for common mental illnesses like depression, at rates
comparable to younger adults.
Ten tips for Older Americans to improve their Mental Health
- Get plenty of rest
- Go for a walk
- Eat something new
- Exercise your mind
- Spend time with others
- Indulge yourself
- Stay in (opt to spend time with yourself once in a while )
- Make the most of leisure time
- Get involved
- Take things one at a time
Ten Facts About Mental Health and Aging
Provided by the Older Women's League
- Mental illness is not a normal part of aging.
- While older adults may experience many losses, deep sadness that lingers may signal clinical depression. Similarly, an anxiety disorder is
different from normal worries.
- One in five Americans has a diagnosable mental disorder during any one year.
- About 5 percent of older adults have a diagnosable depressive illness and another 14 percent have significant symptoms of depression; 11 percent
of adults over age 55 have an anxiety disorder.
- Mental health is as important as physical health.
- Good mental health contributes greatly to an overall feeling of well-being.
- Untreated mental health disorders in older adults can lead to diminished functioning, substance abuse, poor quality of life and increased
mortality.
- Some mental illnesses, like depression, may have physical symptoms, such as pain.
- And the symptoms of some physical illnesses can be confused for mental illnesses.
- Research shows mental illness can slow healing from physical illnesses.
- Mental illness is a risk for all older adults, regardless of their mental health history.
- While some adults go through life managing a chronic mental illness, mental illness also can appear late in life.
- Sometimes mental health deteriorates in response to a stroke, Parkinson's disease, cancer, arthritis or diabetes, and even medications for
some physical illnesses.
- Older adults without a history of substance abuse may abuse medications, alcohol or drugs.
- Misdiagnosis and avoidance are common.
- Seniors mental health and substance abuse problems are often unreported and often undetected
- Unfortunately, primary care physicians fail to diagnose depression 50 percent of the time.
- Only half of older adults who discuss specific mental health problems with a physician receive any treatment.
- Older adults have specific mental health care needs.
- Changing in body chemistry, family, friendships and living situations can all impact mental health and need to be considered in treatment.
- Sometimes helping solve basic problems, like transportation, can lower stress, improve community connections, and improve outlook and mood.
- If older adults take many medications for illnesses, drug interactions and side effects can change mood and behavior.
- Suicide is a risk among older adults.
- Older adults have the highest suicide rate in the country. Those aged 85 and over have the highest suicide rate; those aged 75-84 have the
second highest.
- Older adults' suicide attempts are more lethal. For those 65 and older, there is one suicide for every four attempts compared to one suicide
for every 20 attempts for all other age groups.
- These symptoms call for consultation with a healthcare professional:
- Sadness that has lasted longer than two weeks;
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
- Feeling helpless, hopeless or worthless
- Consistent worries about issues such as money, family, and health;
- Consistent trouble sleeping, concentrating or making decisions;
- Frequent trouble remembering things or feeling confused in familiar places;
- Have more than one alcoholic drink a day or take more medication than prescribed.
- Older adults with mental illness can be helped with the same success as younger people.
- Eighty percent of older adults recovered from depression after receiving treatment that included both psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication.
- Our healthcare system is not adequately helping older adults with mental disorders.
- Medicare and most private health insurance plans discriminate against mental illness. For example, Medicare covers 80 percent of a physical
health problem but only 50 percent of a mental health problem. This is a significant barrier to treatment.
- Healthy older adults can continue to thrive, grow and enjoy life!
- Reading, walking and socializing are just a few of the activities that individuals can enjoy at any age.
- Exercising your mind and body and maintaining social connections are good for your mental health, too!
Additional Resources:
Women's Health - Division of Public Health
Wisconsin United for Mental Health
Mental Health America
Mental Health Screening
National Institute on Mental Health
Posters to promote mental health friendly work environment (PDF, 218 KB)
Last Revised: October 06, 2009
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