Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year. Unfortunately for those individuals, there is a stigma that surrounds mental illness.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in support of those individuals, to better promote acceptance and actively challenge negative stereotypes, you can take the pledge to break the social stigma surrounding mental health by educating others and seeing the person, not the illness here.

For more information on mental health, as well as behavioral health resources and events, check out these websites: 

·         https://www.mentalhealth.gov/

·         http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/live-your-life-well

·         https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealth.html

·         http://dbh.dc.gov/service/access-helpline

·         https://www.nami.org/mentalhealthmonth

You can also read various medical journals, articles, and posts about living your life well, managing stress, and overcoming the stigma of mental illness by accessing DC Public Library’s online resources via our Health and Wellness databases with your library card.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, you are not alone. If you need someone to talk to, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-273-8255 and by chat online.