May isn’t just another page on the calendar, at least not for those of us who care about mental illness. It’s an invitation to change lives, including your own, through Mental Health Awareness Month (sometimes just called Mental Health Month) activities. Mental Health America’s 2025 theme, “Turn Awareness into Action,” challenges each of us to move beyond posts and pins and do something concrete for mental wellness, and this is a theme I agree with entirely. Let's try to move beyond mere awareness into education, advocacy, policy change, and more.

Why Mental Health Awareness Month Matters

Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has pushed the conversation about depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and dozens of other conditions from whispered secrets to headline news. Yet the need is still urgent. One in five adults will face a mental health condition this year, and fewer than half will receive adequate care.

By devoting 31 days to education, empathy, and action, we:

• Shrink prejudice (which people commonly refer to as stigma). Open talk normalizes mental health concerns and seeking help.
• Boost early intervention. People notice warning signs of a mental health condition sooner when resources flood their feeds.
• Shape policy. Annual campaigns fuel grassroots pressure for better coverage, research funding, and workplace protections.
• Raise money for worthy organizations. Mental health organizations like Mental Health America (MHA) and the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) are always looking for additional funds to improve the lives of people with mental illness. (More on this later.)

Think of May as a collective megaphone: the more voices, the farther the message travels.

If You Have a Mental Illness: 7 Ways to Honor Yourself

Even seasoned advocates sometimes forget that Mental Health Awareness Month is for us, too. Use the spotlight to strengthen your own recovery through bipolar self-care.

1. Create a video for your sick self when you're well. Recently, I was on the Giving Voice to Depression podcast, and we discussed how you can create a recording for your sick self while you are well. I'll be writing more about this once the podcast is posted, but for now, just consider what your sick self needs to hear and record that in a message. You are more likely to believe you than anyone else.
2. Schedule a “whole‑health check‑in.” Book or confirm appointments with your psychiatrist, therapist, and primary‑care doctor. Tack on blood and other tests, dental and vision care, if you can — after all, physical health strongly affects mood stability.
3. Audit your medication plan. Ask your prescriber: “Are my current meds still the best fit?” New options, dosage tweaks, or generic or compassion programs might cut costs or side effects. And remember, while the right prescriptions are critical, sometimes what you really need is de-prescribing — getting off a medication.
4. Refresh your crisis safety net. I write a lot about this in my new book, but for now, here are three ideas: 1. Update your crisis plan. 2. Store the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number 9‑8‑8 in the United States and Canada in a place you're likely to see when in crisis. 3. Add two people you trust to a “call first” list.
5. Tell one honest story. You control the depth — an Instagram caption (tag me), a blog post, or a lunch‑break chat. Research shows storytelling reduces prejudice, self‑stigma, and invites support (for research, see here, here, and here).
6. Join or re‑join a community that is good for your mental health. Whether it’s a NAMI Connection group, an online site, or an in‑person art class, shared spaces buffer isolation.
7. Celebrate small wins. Mark each therapy session attended, mood‑tracking streak completed, or boundary set. Tiny victories compound into resilience and better mental health overall.

If You Don’t Have a Mental Illness: 7 Actions That Matter

Allies and the generally curious can turn empathy into impact during Mental Health Awareness Month with the steps below.

1. Learn, don’t lurk. Read one evidence‑based article or watch a webinar on conditions you know least about (e.g., obsessive‑compulsive disorder [OCD], schizoaffective disorder, etc.). Link only to reputable sites such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or Medscape (more resources here) in your social posts.
2. Use person‑first language. If you know me, you know that I call myself bipolar, crazy, and other things, too. I have no problem with this and don't view it as pejorative. However, not everyone is me. Using person-first language like “a person living with schizophrenia,” not “a schizophrenic” is important to many people.
3. Host a workplace “mental health minute.” Kick off a meeting with a fact and a resource. Offer anonymous Q&A via a Google Form. Employees remember thoughtful leadership long after May ends.
4. Support a loved one’s appointment. Drive them, wait with them, or cover a chore so they can attend therapy without stress. You could also pick up a prescription or bring them dinner they can heat up in the microwave to make their life just a little bit more manageable.
5. Donate or fundraise. Give to organizations providing sliding‑scale counseling or crisis text lines. Share your donation link paired with the hashtag #TurnAwarenessIntoAction so your network can amplify. Good choices this month are the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and MHA because both are doubling your donations right now!
6. Advocate for policy change. Email your representatives about parity laws, safer schools, or improved drug coverage. Two minutes, one template, real impact (example here, although many organizations offer templates).
7. Model everyday compassion. Check in on friends (“How’s your headspace today?”). Listen twice as much as you speak. Compassion is catnip for the human spirit. And remember, those of us who seem like we're doing the best may actually need it the most.

Digital Actions that Amplify Awareness

While this is completely optional, it is nice to have after you put hard work into your message. Optimize your posts for reach and substance like this.

1. Keywords still count. Use “Mental Health Awareness Month,” “mental health advocacy,” and location‑based phrases (“Toronto mental health resources”) in captions, alt text, and headers.
2. Link like a librarian. Outbound links to authoritative sites (NAMI, MHA, SAMHSA, etc.) improve credibility; internal links keep readers exploring your own content.
3. Hashtag with intent. Pair broad tags (#MentalHealth, #SelfCare) with campaign‑specific ones (#TurnAwarenessIntoAction, #MHAM2025).
4. Accessibility equals reach. Add image descriptions and caption videos. Search engines reward inclusive design, and so do readers.
5. Share at peak times. For North American audiences, lunchtime (12–2 p.m. local) and early evening (6–8 p.m.) tend to perform best.

From Awareness to Action—All Year Long

Mental Health Awareness Month ends on May 31, but your mental health doesn’t. Carry the momentum forward in the following ways:

• Schedule quarterly self‑checkups. Set calendar reminders to revisit meds, therapy goals, and physical wellness.
• Continue allyship. Keep conversations open — especially when news cycles move on.
• Track policy changes. Follow mental health bills at your state or provincial level and voice support or concerns. (I'm going to be writing about the new United States administration's policies soon. There is much to be concerned about.)

Final Thought on Mental Health Month

Awareness is the spark; action is the flame that lights the path to change. Whether you live with a diagnosis or champion someone who does, your choices this May can ripple through workplaces, families, and timelines long after the hashtags fade. So pick a suggestion — just one — and do it today. Then pick another tomorrow. Together, we’ll turn 2025’s call to action into a year of tangible progress for minds everywhere.

Header image by SAMHSA.