Mental Health Awareness Month

May is a time of renewal and this Mental Health Awareness Month, JED’s theme, “Grow Forward Together,” inspires us to build resilience within ourselves and across our communities, highlighting mental health as a shared journey where we support one another. 

Below you’ll find ways to support yourself, those close to you, and your communities. You can also check out our Mental Health Awareness Month hub for more resources and tips to boost your well-being and protect emotional health and prevent suicide for teens and young adults everywhere. 

Activities

• Learn the facts. Get the latest stats supporting our work and learn why taking action for youth mental health is so urgent.
• Amplify on social. Use our suggested captions and social graphics on your social media channels this May to share ways to nurture your well-being, strengthen connections, and create a community of care. 
  • Don’t forget to tag The Jed Foundation and use the hashtags #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth and #JEDCares.
  • Make sure to follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
• Support Youth Mental Health. Make a gift to support JED’s life-saving programs. You will have an immediate impact on the lives of teens and young adults.
  
• Nurture your well-being. Discover how to identify and talk about your feelings so you can better connect with yourself and the people you care about.
  
  • Register now for the exclusive TikTok livestream of the third annual Rare Beauty Mental Health Summit on May 1, 11 am ET. JED will lead a workshop, “Reducing Loneliness and Creating Connection through Storytelling,” with tips on talking about mental health and safely sharing your story. Come join our communities as some of the most influential voices in mental health to engage in critical conversations and meaningful discussions.
    
  • Join JED x PINK for guided video experiences that will help you become more intentional about practicing self-care and creating mental health routines. Visit justpresspause.com.
    
• Strengthen connections. Learn the signs that someone might be struggling, explore conversation starters, and get tips to navigate difficult conversations with empathy and openness. 
  • Register now for a virtual expert panel with JED x The Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health. “Beyond Stigma: Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors in Teens” on May 9, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST will discuss important findings from JED’s new research, including top concerns holding teens back from asking for help, where teens turn for support and what they really want when reaching out for help, and how parents and other adults can better enable teens to talk about their mental health. 
  • Get inspo from former Dance Moms Star Nia Sioux with Kenzie Ziegler, GAYLE, and more. In a new “Capture the Convo” video series for Seize the Awkward, Sioux joins her friends to discuss their real experiences talking about mental health.
• Create a community of care. Explore ways you can advocate for mental health awareness in your school and community, from sharing social media posts to promoting the importance of emotional well-being.
  • Tune in to ‘Healthier Together: A Path to A Better World’, a mini docu-series presented by the WHO Foundation. The Maybelline films capture the powerful stories of The Jed Foundation, among other organizations, to address barriers to care and normalize conversations about youth mental health in diverse communities globally.
  • Join JED for MTV’s Mental Health Day of Action on May 16. Exciting announcements to come! For more information about Mental Health Day of Action, visit mentalhealthaction.network.
  • Attend the free Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health on May 18 in New York City. Join music lovers and forward-thinking organizations in Brooklyn to foster community, have open dialogue around mental health and the power of music, and enjoy performances by Misterwives, Kevin Morby, and other musical artists.
    
  • Join the Presence of Mind X Chat on May 23 with Kaiser Permanente, NAMI, JED, and more. The chat will focus on loneliness and provide tools to combat social isolation. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and use the hashtag #PresenceOfMind.
• Finally, download our Mental Health Awareness Month coloring activity. It’s both a mindfulness activity and a way to share your support for youth mental health. Get creative, tag us on social, and display in your window, office, or dorm room.