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The singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen famously said, “There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.” At MAMH, May is a chance to celebrate and share that light. From teenagers who shared their messages of hope through our annual art contest to older adults whose stories we amplified on Twitter, we've learned a lot from your lived experiences and our own. This May, let's come together - not just to start a conversation, but to listen, acknowledge, and remind each other that our light is shining through. |
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Celebrating Mental Health Month |
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| Re-Inventing America's Mental Health System This month, MAMH was honored to welcome Dr. Tom Insel, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), to celebrate his new book Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health. Dr. Insel's lifetime of expertise and quest for answers led to this bold, expert, and actionable map for the re-invention of America's broken mental health system. Learn more. |
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Youth Expressions Art Contest Winners! MAMH partnered with the Massachusetts Health Council for our 3rd Annual Mental Health Matters Youth Expressions Art Contest, open to middle school and high school students (grades 6-12). Students from across the Commonwealth used a range of art forms to describe how they refresh their mental health. Check out the winning pieces of artwork in the middle and high school categories here. |
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Mental Health Resources and Supports |
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|  | Helping Massachusetts Residents Network of Care Massachusetts is the singular place where people can go to find information on mental health, substance use, and related social services resources (over 5,200 in total) in their communities. More than 200,000 individuals have visited the website in its first two years; the site has become a key resource for Commonwealth residents looking for behavioral health services. Learn more. Find services and resources here. |
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|  | Empowering Young Adults to Take Charge of Their Mental Health Launched in May 2021, #JustAsk is a multimedia campaign to help young adults take charge of their mental health with a simple suggestion-- #JustAsk. The campaign highlights our own social networks as a resource, encouraging individuals to reach out to trusted friends and family members for support. Free resources can be found on Network of Care Massachusetts, and others provided by the Commonwealth are available for young adults who want and need more support. View available resources. |
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Finding Help When You Need It Most In just two months, a new suicide and behavioral health crisis helpline will go live. In the year to come, we anticipate that people will be met with understanding, support, and resources when they call this new 3-digit number, 988. This will be further strengthened by the state's own Behavioral Health Helpline, set to go into effect early 2023. Learn more on our website, blog, and how 988 will work in Massachusetts. |
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Mental Health Awareness in the News Samantha Roecker, a nurse at a Penn Medicine outpatient clinic, ran the Boston Marathon while wearing nursing scrubs to raise funds and awareness for the mental health and well-being of nurses. Learn more. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is shining a light on the link between outdoor exercise and improved mental health. Every Sunday in the month of May, BlueBikes are free to riders using a specific code. Learn more and get your code. L.L. Bean goes "off the grid" for the month of May in an effort to encourage followers and fans to take time outside to prioritize their mental wellbeing. Learn more. Massachusetts bridges lit up green for Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, bringing awareness to the week of focus on children's mental health struggles. Learn more. |
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Research News Older adults need access to age-friendly, evidence-based care for substance use concerns wherever they receive clinical care, according to a recent report published in Health Affairs. View report. More than one-third of high school students reported poor mental health during the pandemic, according to the CDC's 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES). The report highlights the pivotal role schools can play in improving youth mental health outcomes. Learn more. The cost of mental health services and inadequate insurance coverage were identified by young adults as the most important barriers to seeking care for depression. Learn more. Taking a week-long break from TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook had positive effects for wellbeing, depression, and anxiety, according to a recent study. Learn more. |
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Events Take advantage of the many opportunities for in-person and online training across the Commonwealth! Check out our Events page to see what's happening in the behavioral health community this month! Interested in trainings for supporting older adults with behavioral health needs in the community? Check out our Older Adult Training Calendar! |
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Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
50 Federal Street 6th Floor | Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(617) 742-7452 | kathyfranklin@mamh.org |
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