Mental Health Week Oct 2 - Oct 8 Anxiety Depression and OCD, Oh My!
Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. However, mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers. That is why each year, during the first week of October, NAMI and participants across the country raise awareness of mental illness, fight discrimination and provide support through Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW).
We believe that mental health conditions are important to discuss year-round, but highlighting them during MIAW provides a dedicated time for mental health advocates across the country to come together as one unified voice. Since 1990, when Congress officially established the first full week of October as MIAW, advocates have worked together to sponsor activities, large or small, to educate the public about mental illness.
MIAW 2022
This year’s MIAW is centered around the theme “What I Wish I Had Known” where we will focus on the power of lived experience. Each day throughout the week, we will be elevating the voices of people with lived experience to talk about the components of their recovery where they learned something that could have helped them sooner. The topics include: What I Wish I’d Known About…
Monday Oct. 3: Stigma
Tuesday Oct. 4: Medication [National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding]
Wednesday Oct. 5: Therapy
Thursday Oct. 6: Disclosing [National Depression Screening Day]
Friday Oct. 7: Caregiving
How To Engage Online With MIAW
Order NAMI’s First Book: “You Are Not Alone”
“You Are Not Alone,” NAMI’s first ever book written by leading psychiatrist Dr. Ken Duckworth, is here to offer help. This comprehensive guide includes stories from over 130 people who have “been there” — including people with mental illness and caregivers — and understand how challenging it can be to find the help you need, when you need it. Their stories are what makes this book different from your typical mental health guide.
The book covers how to get help, pathways to recovery, the intersection of culture and mental health, and many more important topics to guide any person’s mental health journey. NAMI’s hope is that this guide can help people find help and support sooner and make recovery more accessible to those trying to find it.
Order your copy of the book today or for bulk purchases, visit Porchlight- You Are Not Alone.