May is Mental Health Awareness Month, this gives everyone the opportunity to share resources, information, reduce stigmas, raise awareness about the mental health, and the importance of one's mental wellbeing.
In the United States, more than 1 in 5 adults, opens a new window live with a mental illness. Mental illness can affect anyone at any stage in life, from childhood through to adulthood. More than 1 in 5 youth, opens a new window (ages 13-18) have or at some point in their life, have had debilitating and serious mental illness. Because of this it is important to bring awareness to mental illnesses to help those in need, below are different resources and books to get started.
If you or someone you know needs help right now:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call or text 988
SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Santa Clara County Suicide & 1 (408) 278-4204 (Toll Free)
If you or someone wants to talk, but it’s not an emergency:
NAMI Santa Clara County 408-453-0400 option 1
Mon-Fri, 10 am to 6 pm
Walk-in: Mon-Fri, 10 am to 2 pm
Mental Health Association of SF 1-855-845-7415
online chat
For other organizations you can call, check out our resource guide here.
For book suggestions that discuss and normalize mental health:
BUT WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY?: NAVIGATING MENTAL HEALTH, IDENTITY, LOVE, AND FAMILY BETWEEN CULTURES
DBT FOR EVERYONE: A GUIDE TO THE PERKS, PITFALLS, AND POSSIBILITIES OF DBT FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH
