As we shared earlier this month, October 10th is “World Mental Health Day.” But, did you know that October is also host to a number of other mental health campaigns? We’re not sure how all of these awareness and preventative health campaigns ended up in October but, it seems like appropriate timing given the mental health difficulties that can sometimes accompany the holidays as well challenges like seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with the shorter, darker days.
Monthly Mental Health Campaigns in October:
Weekly Mental Health Campaigns in October:
- OCD Awareness Week (2nd Week in October)
- Mental Illness Awareness Week (1st Week in October)
Day-Specific Mental Health Campaigns in October:
- National Depression Screening Day (10/8)
- World Mental Health Day (10/10)
The age of onset for many mental health disorders is in the teen or early adult years. This makes awareness of mental illnesses, mental health education, and service provision especially important for college campuses. Consider these resources and information for some of the above campaigns as part of your campus effort to support the health and well-being of your students.
Resources for Campus Mental Health Campaigns & Outreach
ADHD Awareness: Even if it’s not October, the site for ADHD awareness month is full of valuable information for those who have ADHD, supporting those who do, or want more education. This year’s focus is correcting misunderstandings and creating connections for a more shared experience. Link here for media, Q&A, myths & facts, and the opportunity for those with ADHD to share their own lived experiences.
National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month (and Day 10/8): As one of the most common mental illnesses, and one that can surface during the college years, we can help protect our students from the devastating effects of depression onset by having active awareness campaigns on our campuses. With the transition and challenges that are common in the lives of young people, those who develop depression are prone to dismiss their suffering as part of normal life. By providing opportunities for screening as well as creating campus awareness of signs of depression, we can help students seek help early and get back to feeling better.
OCD Awareness: There is a great deal of misunderstanding and stereotypes about the manifestation of OCD as a lived disorder. While some people do suffer from well-identified repetitive physical patterns, OCD is not always experienced in this way. As OCD can be difficult to diagnose, sometimes people spend years suffering or attempting to get treatment. Understanding more about this disorder can help our students get effective help more quickly.
Many students do not come to college with a strong or accurate understanding of mental health issues. However, a portion of them are likely to develop a mental illness or have a friend who does. By educating ourselves about existing resources and campaigns, we can help equip our campuses to meet our students in these important educational, health, and community support needs.
October 18, 2022. By Anne Rulo, Author, Speaker, Therapist. www.annerulo.com. FB/IG/Twitter @annemrulo