May is Mental Health Awareness Month

banner with may is mental health month - all greens
To continue the work of FRPA's past Health Pillar workgroups, FRPA is committed to recognizing and celebrating May is Mental Health Month again in 2024. Below you will find tools and resources to support both your internal agency team and ways to reach your community. See resources below.
 
rec the stigma - round with green letters
Internal
The Internal initiative theme is Rec the Stigma and encourages agencies to utilize the resources to help break down the walls that may be built up around the discussion of mental health topics. The resources below are for you and your agency to utilize when working within your own organization to express the importance of positive mental health among employees. 

During “May is Mental Health Awareness Month,” it is critical that we huddle as one team, and offer support to our fellow team members, to ensure that we prioritize mental health, well-being and mindfulness in our service to the community. 



Resources to download:
Tool Kit 
Includes: Purpose, Messaging, Mental Health and Workplace Stress Resources, Example Proclamation Did You Know and Other Facts, Activity Calendar

Reference Reading:
Disrupting Stigma: How Understanding, Empathy, and Connection Can Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use and Mental Disorders

May is Mental Health Awareness Month Icon (Ribbon)

Badge

Banner

Rec the Stigma Icon

NRPA Resources


Take a Self Assessment:
The AIS Workplace Stress Survey was developed in 1998 to serve as a simple screening measure to determine the need for further investigation with more comprehensive assessments. Online screening is the quickest way to determine if you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition Take the free mental health screening provided by Mental Health America. After the screening you are provided with information, resources, and tools to help you understand and improve your mental health.

New resource: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline-  this website had a plethora of resources - specifically for populations historically underserved. 

take time for you - round with green letters
External
The External outreach theme is Take Time for You and offers resources for agencies to grab and use when communicating with their community at large. You are encouraged to find ways celebrate May is Mental Health Awareness Month with your community and the toolkit items below will help you in making these plans. 

During “May is Mental Health Awareness Month,” we wish to prioritize mental health, well-being, and mindfulness in our service to our community. This toolkit offers key insights and helpful resources for cities and counties to assess and improve their holistic health – mental, social, and physical well-being offerings to their community. More information will be added as it becomes available but we wanted to make sure you could begin preparing for your communication with your community.


Tool Kit
Includes: Purpose, Messaging, Mental Health and Workplace Stress Resources, Example Proclamation Did You Know and Other Facts, Activity Calendar


Priority Resources
Food insecurity 
Not knowing where you next meal comes from or knowing how you're going to provide dinner for your children can definitely have an impact on your mental health. Educate yourself on food assistance programs available in your area so that when you're able to provide this information to someone in need you're equipped to do so. You could consider teaming up with local food banks to host a food distribution site at a park or community center. Many agencies did this during the pandemic and continue to do so now. Pop Up Program Sample
Reference Reading:
Food Insecurity and Mental Health: Food Insecurity and Psychological Distress
Map the Meal Gap in Your Community


Families Experiencing Homelessness
People and families who are experiencing homelessness are on the rise in communities across the state. As this has been a topic of conversation at many recent FRPA meetings, the group wanted to share some ideas and resources for addressing this in a positive way in your community. 

One way to help is to know what resources are available in your local area. If the people you are encountering have children, many times there are resources available through local school districts that can help. 

Reference Reading:
Behavioral Health Services for People Who Are Homeless 

An idea from the workgroup: Kits to pass out to unhoused people/people in need to show care and kindness. A few years ago at the FRPA Annual Conference we gathered items for a project like this. Anything from toiletries to snacks can be included. Port St Lucie has taken this on for 2023 and also included a note of care. They are calling them "U Matter Kits". 




Coping and Resilience Skills 
Behavior is often a direct result of experiences and in our post-pandemic world, professionals are realizing more and more that many people, from children to adults, aren't demonstrating positive coping skills. As the workgroup has identified this as a topic to research more, you will find more information listed here as it is gathered. 



Marketing Resources 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month Icon (Ribbon)

Badge

Banner

Take Time For You Icon



Example Proclamation 


NRPA Resources


Take a Self Assessment:
The AIS Workplace Stress Survey was developed in 1998 to serve as a simple screening measure to determine the need for further investigation with more comprehensive assessments. Online screening is the quickest way to determine if you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition Take the free mental health screening provided by Mental Health America. After the screening you are provided with information, resources, and tools to help you understand and improve your mental health.

REVIEW WHAT AGENCIES HAVE DONE IN THE PAST FOR IDEAS

Port St Lucie: Full line up of activities throughout the month that includes Forest Bathing, Brain Fitness, Yoga, and Nature Walks. | Banners in Parks!  | Forest Bathing awareness video | Forest Bathing event
Charlotte County: Social Media Campaign with calendar for citizens.
Dunedin: Social Media Campaign  | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
Haines City: Seniors Taking Time for Themselves!
Hialeah: Line up of free programs
Deerfield Beach: Teen Summit in Celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month
Margate: Free demonstrations (include but are not limited to yoga, tai-chi, and stretch band classes) and handing out information.
St Petersburg: Employee info emails through the month. Small gifts to give out throughout the month. Using subject matter experts on Facebook live or takeover to help with the message. Citizen outreach calendar | Proclamation by Mayor | Classes
Wellington: Free Yoga classes | Free Depression Seminar | Awareness post
Palm Beach County: Social media
Safety Harbor: Proclamation at May Commission Meeting
Greenacres: Let's Talk... Program

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Educate yourself on the ways you can make an impact in your community - even if it's an impact on just one person. 
Use the hashtags: #TakeTimeForYou | #RecTheStigma | #MayIsMentalHealthAwarenessMonth 
Use the icons below in social media - also search your gif library for "frpa" and you will find specials gifs.