May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Widespread anxiety and fear over COVID19 are making mental health awareness and resources more relevant than ever before. Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) is responding to this growing need by expanding its outreach efforts during Mental Health Awareness Month, May 2020.

In addition to requesting all Oakland County communities recognize May as Mental Health Month through proclamation declarations at local council meetings, OCHN also created a special social media calendar to be used by its service providers and community members. The public mental health agency is asking people to join them in promoting mental health awareness by sharing the same message on each day of the month on their personal social media sites.

“Community connection is so important during these challenging times,” says OCHN Deputy Executive Director and COO, Nicole Lawson. “By uniting our efforts and sharing messages of hope, we can ensure the mental health needs of all Oakland County citizens are met and that no one feels alone.”

OCHN service providers and local community agencies participating in the campaign include Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities, Easterseals Michigan, Common Ground, Oakland Family Services, and Training and Treatment Innovations.

OCHN is also making a special request for the county’s youth to help recognize May 7, 2020 as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day by posting and sharing their own messages of hope and inspiration with others, including #youthmentalhealthmatters.

Additionally, the organization is running television, Spotify, and cell phone banner ads promoting the message “Hope Starts Here” and directing people to its contact information. A link to the OCHN May is Mental Health Awareness Month calendar and proposed social media posts is available online at www.oaklandchn.org under the events tab or the MHM rotating banner.

Mental Health Awareness Month has been organized by Mental Health America (MHA) since 1949. This year’s theme is “Tools 2 Survive.” The entire MHA Tools 2 Survive awareness toolkit is available online at www.mhanational.org.