NAMI HelpLine

Mental Illness Awareness Week

 

About Mental Illness Awareness Week

Everyone is impacted by mental health conditions – including the friends, family, and coworkers who don’t live with a mental health condition themselves. One in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental health condition each year, which impacts those who know and love them.

Since 1990, Americans have celebrated the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week after the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lobbied Congress to create this critical awareness event. This year, Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 6 – 12 and World Mental Health Day is October 10.

NAMI believes that mental health conditions are important to discuss all year, and we are thrilled to participate in a global conversation during this awareness week.

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My Mental Health at Work

This year, alongside the World Federation for Mental Health, the founders of World Mental Health Day, we are recognizing the importance of prioritizing mental health in the workplace.

Our theme for Mental Illness Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day is “My Mental Health at Work.”

From October 6 – 12, NAMI plans to highlight how our mental health is impacted by our workplace cultures. In our new resources, employers can find practical tips about how to better support their staff. Meanwhile, employees can learn about the resources available to them and how to advocate for mental health support at work.

We encourage you to join us in promoting mental wellness at work throughout Mental Illness Awareness Week, and especially on World Mental Health Day.

Download the Toolkit

We’ve created this toolkit to support NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates, partners and ambassadors, and other mental health champions in spreading the word about NAMI’s workplace mental health resources. We encourage you to use these resources in your own promotion and awareness efforts for Mental Illness Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day.

Join us in reducing stigma surrounding mental health at work. Download our toolkit for more insights and resources to spread awareness.

Download the Toolkit

Join the Conversation

Share information about NAMI’s workplace mental health initiatives and other supports! The following graphics and sample captions are designed to help you spread the word about My Mental Health at Work during this Mental Illness Awareness Week.

My Mental Health at Work

Sample Carousel Images (More available to download here)

Sample Captions (More available in toolkit)

  • Personal mental health can sometimes take a backseat at work, but it’s time for us to come together to prioritize it. That’s why NAMI’s theme this #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek and #WorldMentalHealthDay is My Mental Health at Work! Promote mental wellness in your workplace with these guides. #NAMIStigmaFree
  • Mental health is important in all aspects of our lives, including in professional settings. That’s why we’re putting it first this #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek and #WorldMentalHealthDay! Let’s make our workplaces #NAMIStigmaFree. Share how you prioritize Mental Health at Work!

General Support Options

Sample Carousel Images (More available to download here)

Sample Captions (More available in toolkit)

  • Everyone deserves a support system and access to the resources they need to thrive. This #WorldMentalHealthDay, check on your loved ones and be honest with them about how you’re feeling, too. Every open conversation brings us closer to community.
  • No matter what you’re going through, #WorldMentalHealthDay is a great reminder that you are not alone and there are resources available to support you on your journey.

Get Support and Stay Involved

Mental health is an everyday topic at NAMI, and we hope these resources help make it part of your workplace culture, too. Check out these resources, watch for opportunities to advocate within your workplace, and encourage your community to engage with mental health year-round.

  • Mental health matters – even, and maybe especially, at work. When employees feel supported in their mental health journey, they’re shown to be more productive and engaged at work. We’re proud to present a brand-new NAMI StigmaFree site where you can download guides to navigating mental health at work, tools for leadership, and more.
  • A mental health crisis can happen anytime. Be prepared for the possibility of a mental health crisis at work with NAMI’s guide, Navigating a Mental Health Crisis at Work. Along with a step-by-step guide to supporting an employee in crisis, learn practical tips from this new resource, supported by our partner, The Hartford.
  • Accommodations for employees aren’t only for physical disabilities; they’re also available for mental health conditions. Learn more about accommodations, or “success enablers,” from our new report with our partner Inclusively, “Making the Workplace Work for All: Enabling Employee Success”.
  • Many parents and caregivers of children have work deadlines and stressors. “You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers” is the essential guide to navigating your child’s mental health. Order your copy of the book today!
  • Part of balancing work and life is having an outlet for physical activity! NAMI believes that mental health is physical health, a key part of NAMI’s Hearts + Minds.
  • Community often plays a big role in how we heal. NAMI support groups are led by peers and offer individuals the opportunity to share their experiences. Share NAMI’s support groups with anyone you know who may be impacted by their own mental health condition or a loved one’s.

Share Key Facts

Please use these facts and others to encourage discussions with your community through social media or other forms of outreach.

Mental Health Statistics

  • 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year
  • 1 in 20 U.S. adults experiences serious mental illness each year
  • 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experiences a mental health condition each year
  • In 2023, 53.9% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment

Workplace Mental Health Awareness

  • 74% of full-time employees in the U.S. say it’s appropriate to discuss mental health concerns at work. Only 58% say they feel comfortable doing so.
  • 1 in 3 full-time employees say their mental health has declined because of work in the past year.
  • Burnout is a common problem, with over half of respondents reporting feelings of burnout. Half (52%) of employees reported feeling burned out in the past year because of their job, and 37% reported feeling so overwhelmed it made it hard to do their job.

Access to Services, Care, and Support

  • 83% of employees agree mental health and well-being training would be important in creating a positive workplace culture. But 7 in 10 senior-level employees say they haven’t received training to talk about mental health at work.
  • 9 in 10 employees say employer-sponsored mental healthcare coverage is important for creating a positive workplace culture. This is true for employees regardless of gender, age, stage in career, or managerial status.
  • 1 in 4 employees say they don’t know if their employer offers mental health coverage, showing the need for more communication from employers about mental health.

Get more stats about the state of mental health at work at nami.org/2024Workplace.

Download the Toolkit

Know the warning signs of mental illness

Learn more about common mental health conditions

NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).