Overview
Mental Illness Awareness Week begins on Sunday October 3rd, 2021 and ends on Saturday October 9th, 2021. Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place annually during the first week in October. Millions of Americans struggle with mental illness. This is why congress established the first week in October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in 1990. Each year new awareness campaigns are created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and this year’s awareness campaign is titled “Together for Mental Health”. The focus of this year’s campaign is to advocate for improved care for people with serious mental illness. Throughout the week, take the time to educate and increase awareness about serious mental illness and the importance of better mental health care. Below is a list of the Mental Illness Awareness Week events, with each day bringing light to a different issue.
Tuesday Oct. 5: National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding
Thursday Oct. 7: National Depression Screening Day
Saturday Oct. 9: NAMIWalks United Day of Hope
Sunday Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day
Facts About Mental Illness from NAMI
1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
Mental illness affects:
44% of LGB adults
32% Mixed/Multiracial adults
22% of White adults
19% of American Indian or Alaska Native
18% of Latinx adults
17% of Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander adults
17% of Black adults
14% of Asian adults
Annual prevalence among U.S. adults, by condition:
Anxiety Disorders: 19.1% (estimated 48 million people)
Major Depressive Episode: 7.8% (19.4 million people)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: 3.6% (estimated 9 million people)
Bipolar Disorder: 2.8% (estimated 7 million people)
Borderline Personality Disorder: 1.4% (estimated 3.5 million people)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 1.2% (estimated 3 million people)
Schizophrenia: <1% (estimated 1.5 million people)
Mental Illness Resources
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) provides information on prevention, treatment and symptoms of anxiety, depression and related conditions (240-485-1001)
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) provides information and referrals on ADHD, including local support groups (800-233-4050)
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) provides information on bipolar disorder and depression, offers in-person and online support groups and forums (800-826-3632)
International OCD Foundation provides information on OCD and treatment referrals (617-973-5801)
National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (NCEED) provides up-to-date, reliable and evidence-based information about eating disorders (800-931-2237)
Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA) offers Schizophrenia Anonymous self-help groups and toll-free teleconferences (240-423-9432)
Sidran Institute helps people understand, manage and treat trauma and dissociation; maintains a helpline for information and referrals (410-825-8888)
Treatment and Research Advancements for Borderline Personality Disorder (TARA) offers a referral center for information, support, education and treatment options for BPD (888-482-7227)
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides referrals to support groups and mental health professionals, resources on loss, and suicide prevention information (888-333-2377)
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24/7 crisis intervention, safety planning and information on domestic violence (800-799-7233)
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline connects callers to trained crisis counselors (800-273-8255)
References
1. “Mental Illness Awareness Week.” NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-illness-awareness-week.
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