May is Mental Health Awareness Month 2023

This Mental Health Awareness Month, JED is focused on creating connection, which is key to emotional well-being. Whether it’s our roommates, our family, or members of our favorite fandom, we all flourish when we have people to rely on when things get tough. No matter who you are or what issues you’re dealing with, your people are out there—and connecting with them can be life-changing and, sometimes, life-saving. 

Below you’ll find ways to increase awareness of the importance of youth mental health and help teens and young adults find and connect with their people, their communities, and to care. Also check out our Mental Health Awareness Month landing page for more resources and tips on making the connections that will boost your well-being.

Activities

• Learn the facts. See the latest evidence to support our work, and learn why taking action for youth mental health is so urgent. Get the stats.
• Amplify on social. Use the suggested copy and social graphics on our Mental Health Awareness Month landing page on your social media channels this May to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and share ways teens and young adults can connect and support each other. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth and #JEDCares and tag The Jed Foundation.
  • Make sure to follow us on TikTok and Snapchat to watch our latest videos, and on Pinterest to save and share helpful pins for educators and caregivers.
• DIY! Customize a fundraising page with Hue-spressions. This Hue-nique approach to Mental Health Awareness Month invites you to show off your creativity through colors: Paint your nails, host a runway show, run a race, or honor someone you love. Don’t forget to tell friends and family how your color theme expresses who you are–and why you care about supporting youth mental health and JED. Then, encourage them to donate and join your activities!
• Find ways to connect through self-care.  Learn why connection is one of the most powerful forms of self-care and get inspired by teens and young adults who take care of themselves by connecting with others.
  • Then join JED x PINK for weekly self-care practices that will help you tap into your playful side, embrace joy, and create meaningful connection.

• Help teens and young adults find their people. 
  • Online: Atlantic senior editor Lenika Cruz takes us into K-pop fandom to share how this unique community offers connection, inclusion, validation, and joy to teens and young adults around the world. Discover how online fandoms offer teens and young adults ways to find connection. 
  • In the LGBTQIA+ community: If you are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, connecting with others who love you unconditionally and because of your queerness is one of the best ways to nurture your mental health. Learn and share how LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults can find their people no matter where they live, and share this helpful guide to getting connected. 
• Join JED for MTV’s Mental Health Day of Action on May 18. Exciting announcements to come! For more information about Mental Health Day of Action, visit mentalhealthaction.network.
• Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health on May 20 in New York City. If you are in Brooklyn, come out for the Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health! Iron & Wine, Hiss Golden Messenger, Langhorne Slim, Kamauu, and Pom Pom Squad will perform at the festival, which brings together musicians, music lovers, and forward-thinking organizations to foster community, open dialogue, and action around mental health through the power of music. Learn more at soundmindlive.org.
• Finally, check out our article Taking Care of Your Mental Health Through Activism and discover how activism can be healing in hard times.