Your MHA Staff Contacts
Danielle Fritze
Vice President, Public Education and Design
dfritze@mhanational.org or 443-243-8759
America Paredes
Vice President, Partnerships and Community Outreach
aparedes@mhanational.org or 703-838-7523
Mental Health Month 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of people of all ages. Now, more than ever, it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles, because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help.
In 2021, we will continue with our theme of Tools 2 Thrive, providing practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase their resiliency regardless of their personal situation.
Our toolkit includes sample materials for communications and social media as well as printable handouts on the following topics:
- Adapting after trauma and stress
- Dealing with anger and frustration
- Getting out of thinking traps
- Processing big changes
- Taking time for yourself
- Radical acceptance
Download The 2021 Mental Health Month Toolkit
Mental Health Month 2020
Since 1949, Mental Health America and our affiliates across the country have led the observance of May is Mental Health Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings. We welcome other organizations to join us in spreading the word that mental health is something everyone should care about by using the May is Mental Health Month toolkit materials and conducting awareness activities.
While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. In 2020, our theme of Tools 2 Thrive provides practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase resiliency regardless of the situations they are dealing with. We now believe that these tools – even those that may need to be adapted for the short term because of COVID-19 and social distancing – will be more useful than ever.
Download the 2020 Mental Health Month Toolkit
Mental Health Month 2019
Caring for your mental health goes beyond things like practicing mindfullness, talking to your therapist or taking medicine. In order to take care of our whole self, we must focus on ways in which all aspects of our life come to impact our overall mood and well-being. For many, it can be hard to recognize the subtle ways that our day-to-day functions can affect these areas and the small ways they can be improved. That's why in 2019, MHA built upon the the success of our 2018 #4Mind4Body campaign which focused on the mind-body connection, as we explore the topics of animal companionship (including pets and support animals), spirituality, humor, work-life balance, and recreation as a way of helping all of us understand the need to address our mental health in all aspects of our lives.
We chose these topics because of their relevance to every individual's mental wellbeing – and because they may be of extra importance to those who are living with chronic physical illnesses. The 2019 theme compliments the topic of our 2019 Annual Conference Dueling Diagnoses: Mental Health and Chronic Conditions in Childrens and Adults where we will be discussing the impact and intersection of chronic conditions and mental health.
Download the 2019 Mental Health Month Toolkit
Mental Health Month 2018
The 2018 May is Mental Health Month Campaign, Fitness #4Mind4Body, features a series of daily challenges to improve overall wellness. The link below allows you to download a zipped folder that has images for each day of the challenge with some brief text about the subject of the day and a call to action. Please feel free to post these on your social media networks.
Daily Challenge Images (Zip Folder)
To unzip a folder, locate the zipped (or compressed) folder that you want to get the files from. You can either open the compressed folder and drag each item to a new location, OR you can right click the folder and select "Extract All.." and choose a location, like on your network or desktop.
The following pdf fact sheets have space for MHA Affiliates to add their own logos and contact information at the bottom of the second page. These documents are high resolution and suitable for professional printing. Please note that these changes can only be made in Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe Illustrator. Unfortunately, there is no way to convert the fact sheets from pdf to Word while retaining the images, resolution quality for printing, and formatting.
Fitness #4Mind4Body - Diet and Nutrition
Fitness #4Mind4Body - Exercise
Fitness #4Mind4Body - Gut Brain Connection
Mental Health Month 2017
The following fact sheets have space for MHA Affiliates to add their own logos and contact information at the bottom of the second page. These documents are high resolution and suitable for professional printing. Please note that these changes can only be made in Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe Illustrator. Unfortunately, there is no way to convert the fact sheets from pdf to Word while retaining the images, resolution quality for printing, and formatting.
Risky Business - Compulsive Buying
Risky Business - Internet Addiction
Risky Business - Prescription Drug Misuse
For the sake of easier editing, we've turned some of the text-based media materials from the toolkit into Word documents for you.
MHM 2017 Sample Social Media Posts
Mental Health Month 2016
The following fact sheets have space for MHA Affiliates to add their own logos and contact information at the bottom of the second page. These documents are high resolution and suitable for professional printing. Please note that these changes can only be made in Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe Illustrator. Unfortunately, there is no way to convert the fact sheets from pdf to Word while retaining the images, resolution quality for printing, and formatting.
Life with Anxiety (PDF)
Life with Depression (PDF)
Life with Bipolar (PDF)
Life with Psychosis (PDF)
Life in Recovery (PDF)
For the sake of easier editing, we've turned some of the text-based media materials from the toolkit into Word documents for you.
MHM 2016 - Key Messages (Word Doc)
MHM 2016 - Sample Press Release (Word Doc)
MHM 2016 - Sample Drop-In Article (Word Doc)
MHM 2016 - Sample Mayoral Proclamation (Word Doc)
MHM 2016 - Sample Social Media Posts and Explanation of #mentalillnessfeelslike (Word Doc)
For social media or web uploading purposes, the fact sheets that are part of the public toolkit have been broken down into smaller "chunks" of images. We've also left some blank space for you to add your affiliate's logo and contact information on each image (above the "An Affiliate of Mental Health America" logo). You can use Microsoft Paint, Microsoft Publisher or similar software on Apple devices. Get directions on how to add your logo using Publisher
Since there are so many images (28), they have been saved to a zipped folder. To download, click the link below. Once the download has completed, right click on the zipped folder and select "Extract Files." You will be prompted to select a location on your computer where you would like to save a new, un-zipped folder with all of the images.
MHM 2016 - Affiliate Exclusive Images (Zipped folder)
Mental Health Month 2015
Sample Evaluation Report (Word Doc)
Sample Logic Model (Word Doc)
Sample Marketing and Fundraising Plan (Word Doc)
MHA Screening FAQs (PDF)
For social media or web uploading purposes, our larger infographic that is part of the public toolkit has been broken down into smaller "chunks". To download, click the link below, then when the new window pops up with the picture, right click and select "Save Image As."
Infographic - Prevalence (600 x 610 px)
Infographic - Risk Factors (600 x 567 px)
Infographic - Symptoms (600 x 447 px)
Infographic - Stages (600 x 852 px)
Infographic - Cost of Waiting (600 x 829 px)
B4Stage4 Affiliate Advocacy Kit (PDF)
Customizable Brochure from B4Stage4 Affiliate Advocacy Kit (Word)
Mental Health Month Archives
- 2014 MHM Toolkit - Mind Your Health
- 2013 MHM Toolkit - Pathways to Wellness
- 2012 MHM Toolkit - Healing Trauma's Invisible Wounds
- 2012 MHM Toolkit - Do More for 1 in 4
- 2011 MHM Toolkit - Do More for 1 in 4
- 2011 MHM Toolkit - Live Well, It's Essential for Your Potential
- 2010 MHM Toolkit - Live Your Life Well
Minority Mental Health Month
Back to School Toolkit