May Mental Health Awareness!

Fri, 07 May 2021 17:30:40 -0400

May is Mental Health Awareness month!

UMBC Student Disability Services celebrates the many talents and accomplishments of people living with mental illness.

Thousands of our ancestors and historical figures, as well as our current friends, family, and popular icons share a similar experience: living, creating, thriving, and sometimes struggling with mental illness. To answer our title question, Winston Churchill and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) both had bipolar disorder. Read further to learn more, and learn the stories of people living with mental illness.

Take the "stop the stigma" quiz on the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI) website. Here's a link to that: Pledge to Be StigmaFree | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Or check out NAMI's more general page on Mental Health awareness month. Did you know one in five people in the United States is affected by mental illness? Know more, share your story, learn about others' stories: Mental Health Month | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

You may be surprised to see how many famous people currently and historically have a mental illness. Try an online search for famous people with ________ (insert "mental illness" or "depression" etc.) Here's an interesting and quick article about women with mental illness or who have close relatives with mental illness who are working to raise awareness: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-illness-celebrities

UMBC Students' (undergraduate and graduate) groups and resources include:

UMBC Counseling Center (Link) which includes:

· Togetherall (online support)

· How to make an appointment during remote COVID times

University Health Services (link)

Wellness Initiative (link)

UMBC NAMI Student Group (link)

Community

While some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen and help via the following resources:

· Maryland 211, as in, dial 2-1-1 for help

· National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or use the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741

Have a safe and healthy month!