The 2015 theme for Mental Health Awareness month was B4Stage4. The campaign intends to encourage people to speak up about their own experiences, to share their point of view with individuals who may be struggling to explain what they are going through-and help others figure out if they too are showing signs of a mental illness. The 2016 theme for Mental Health Month was – Life with a Mental Illness – and called on individuals to share what life with a mental illness feels like for them in words, pictures and video by tagging their social media posts with #mentalillnessfeelslike (or submitting to MHA anonymously). These include risk factors such as risky sex, prescription drug misuse, internet addiction, excessive spending, marijuana use, and troublesome exercise patterns. It focused on the importance to educate people about habits and behaviors that increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental illnesses, or could be signs of mental health problems themselves. The 2017 theme for Mental Health Month was Risky Business. During the month of May, it focused on what individuals can do to be fit for their own futures – no matter where they happen to be on personal journeys to health and wellness. It tracks closely with the Fit for the Future theme of the June 2018 conference. The #4Mind4Body theme was chosen again and expanded on for 2019 “with a set of new resources that are best characterized as essential parts of everyone’s recovery toolkit.” The #Tools2Thrive theme was chosen in “a time of unprecedented anxiety about a world pandemic.” On May 1st, Mental Health America announced the start of its May 2020 Mental Health Month campaign, with an emphasis on delivering “Tools 2 Thrive” to address the mental health needs of everyone. Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping.Withdrawal from friends and activities.Extreme mood changes of highs and lows.Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt.

Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate.

Sparks Off You by Anita Felicelli