Mental Health Awareness Month 2022

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

This Mental Health Awareness Month marks a critical moment for our nation. The COVID-19 pandemic has only contributed to rising rates of mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety, substance misuse, and serious thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts—particularly among youth and marginalized communities. But, The Jed Foundation (JED) is excited by the momentum we see from all corners to change those numbers and meet this moment together. We are particularly grateful to you for doing this important work with us. This MHAM, let’s promote and protect the emotional well-being of those who need it most—teens and young adults. Together, we can:

Find connection and support.
Ask for—and offer—help.
Seek and celebrate joy.

The resources on this page are here to help you have important one-on-one conversations, build connections, share your stories, and launch your own awareness campaigns. Please use and share them widely!

Downloadable Tip Sheets

Download these social-ready JED tip sheets for young adults, caregivers, educators, and everyone to share with friends and loved ones!

Ways to Engage

Seize the Awkward
Reach out to the people who care about you and open up honest conversations with them about mental health. Not sure how to do this? Follow Seize the Awkward on Instagram this month as we share new content about how to start these impactful conversations.

Share Our Stories
Get inspired by others through storytelling – a powerful way to reduce shame, prejudice, and secrecy. By letting others know that none of us is alone in the struggle and none of us has to feel alone in finding help.

View JED Voices

Plan a screening of Each and Every Day
Created in partnership with MTV and JED, and from filmmakers Sheila Nevins and Alexandra Shiva, this powerful documentary explores youth mental health through the eyes of nine different young people who’ve attempted suicide or struggled with suicidal thoughts. The film offers relatable and authentic portraits of young people dealing with suicide and emphasizes help-seeking and hope. It also includes a companion playbook to help schools plan, facilitate and host a screening including discussion questions, conversation starters, participant bios and more. Learn more about Each and Every Day here.

Are you a content creator?
Tap into the Mental Health Media Guide, a groundbreaking, comprehensive resource designed to help expand positive mental health portrayals.

MTV’s Mental Health Day of Action, May 19
Take mental health action with MTV. Together, we spread the message that we can take action to improve our mental health just like our physical health far and wide. For more information, visit mentalhealthactionday.org & check out the resources hub at mentalhealthishealth.us.

Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health, May 21 at Central Park in NYC
Cold War Kids, Big Boi, American Authors, KAMAUU, Wrabel, and Allison Russell will hit the stage at this special event hosted by Gina Brillon. The music festival will raise funds and awareness of the new 988 crisis response line. See how you can take action and get involved at soundmindlive.org.

Host a DIY Fundraiser
Create your own fundraising campaign to raise awareness and funds for The Jed Foundation’s impactful programs. From holding a wellness event to creating a custom t-shirt, there are tons of ways you can bring people together to celebrate and empower the emotional well-being of teens and young adults. Start your fundraiser here.

Social Media Toolkit

Be sure to follow The Jed Foundation on social media to tune in, repost, retweet, and share our weekly and daily activations.

Sample social text

Happy #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth 💚 For the month of May, @JedFoundation is sharing helpful tips and resources around mental health and amplifying the voices of our community. Visit jedfoundation.org/MHAM2022 to learn more.
Happy #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth 💚 Let’s #MeetThisMoment together! We’re proud to partner with @JedFoundation and share helpful resources, because #MentalHealthMatters. Visit jedfoundation.org/MHAM2022 to learn more.
Support is what gets us through tough times. Follow @JedFoundation for ways to connect with each other this #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth. For more resources visit: jedfoundation.org/MHAM2022.
Asking for—and offering—help are two powerful tools to promote and protect emotional well-being and mental health. Follow @JedFoundation this #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth for ways to get support for you and others who need it. For more resources visit: jedfoundation.org/MHAM2022.
For #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth @JedFoundation has created resources and tips to promote and protect emotional well-being and mental health. #JedCares about you because #MentalHealthMatters 💚 jedfoundation.org/MHAM2022

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