Mental Health Awareness Month 2023

The Association was founded by Clifford Whittingham Beers. Born in Connecticut in 1876, Beers was one of five children in his family who all suffered from mental illness and psychological distress. Throughout their lives Beers and members of his family spent time in hospitals and mental institutions. During these experiences Beers knew firsthand the mistreatment, and stigmatism that was so much a part of mental illness.
In 1908, Beers and his colleagues founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene to address and fight against the inadequate treatment of mental health. In 1948, the organization’s name was officially renamed to the World Federation of Mental Health.

The theme of MHA Month for 2023 is , “Look Around, Look Within.” The aim of Mental Health Professionals surrounding this theme is to, “emphasize the ways that our surroundings—like safe and stable housing, healthy homes, lives, neighborhoods and cities, and nature—affect our mental health.” The urgent need to raise awareness and reduce the bias and stigma that surrounds behavioral health issues continue to be the focus and importance in helping to highlight issues of mental illness and addiction. The recognition of establishing support in the integration of behavioral and physical health work to provide improvements in addressing mental health issues and can provide improvements in mental health care.