Developmental Disabilities Administration

May 5, 2022

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the 2022 theme is "Together for Mental Health." Global events over the last few years have had profound impacts on the mental health of people of all ages. Now more than ever it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles that commonly prevents individuals from seeking help. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and wellbeing, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges that can impact their mental health.

Mental health issues span a broad range of conditions. Depression and anxiety are something many people are dealing with, some for the first time. If you are experiencing any of these, talk with your primary care physician. Below are some tips and links that may help, in addition to talking with your physician.

The American Anxiety and Depression Association of America recommends eating healthy well-balanced meals, exercising daily, taking a minute for deep breathing and accepting that you cannot control everything. A full list of their tips is below.

Many people deal with mental health issues and it is important to talk to friends and family if you have concerns. More than 40 million Americans deal with anxiety issues. No one should have to deal with it alone. One way to check in with yourself is to take a mental health screen test. It’s a quick, free and private way for someone to assess their mental health and recognize signs of mental health challenges. For more information on mental health, check out the links below.

More Information

CHA Washington