Raising Mental Health Awareness, Today and Every Day

Today, October 10, is World Mental Health Day which is focused on raising awareness around mental health issues. It comes in the middle of Mental Illness Awareness Week which Congress officially established back in 1990 as the first full week of October. And tomorrow, October 11, is National Depression Screening Day.
 
What this means is that a lot of attention is being paid to mental illness this week, and rightly so. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers. … Each year, we educate the public, fight stigma and provide support. And each year, our movement grows stronger. We believe that mental health conditions are important to discuss year-round, but highlighting them during Mental Illness Awareness Week provides a dedicated time for mental health advocates across the country to come together as one unified voice.”
 
At Courage to Caregivers, we are proud to be part of that voice. We agree with NAMI that “compassion, empathy and understanding” are the antidote to stigma, and our unified voices can spread the cure.
 
It’s important to raise awareness around mental health issues, not only today and this week, but every day of the year. As we work to support those who love someone with a brain difference, we realize that this can be HARD work, as well as REWARDING work. I absolutely believe that by being brave enough to share our stories, we WILL bring hope and healing to others!
 
Keep sharing your stories, and remember I’m here for you.

Kristi

Kristi Horner
Founder and Executive Director