Mental health awareness activities planned in May

The Illinois Department of Human Services, IDHS, is raising awareness for mental health and partnering with providers and cities across the state for awareness month events. 

In honor of mental health awareness, Gov. JB Pritzker proclaimed May to be Mental Health Awareness Month in Illinois.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five young people aged 13-18 will experience a severe mental disorder at some point during their life, and approximately one in five adults will experience a mental illness in a given year. 

Each year, Mental Health Awareness Month and Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day seek to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and how it is essential to a child’s healthy development. 

Research has long shown that the effects of trauma cause disparity in physical health, addiction, mental health conditions, suicide rates, economic vulnerability, educational attainment, violence of all types, and that these disparities are passed from generation to generation.

“Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity for individuals and groups across the state to start conversations about mental health and begin to break down the stigma associated with mental illness. It also allows IDHS to highlight the mental health services that are available through our agency,” said IDHS Secretary Grace B. Hou. 

“We would like to thank our community partners for hosting events this month and cities across the state for lighting up green to raise awareness.”

The State of Illinois, along with more than 1,100 communities, 160 national collaborating organizations, and federal programs have organized local awareness day activities and events around the country. 

Cities and towns across the state planned to be lighting their buildings and structures green from May 6-13 to help raise awareness for Mental Health Awareness Month.