Mental Health Awareness Month 2023
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! The month of May has been National Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949. Activists, supporters, and practitioners throughout the country work together to promote mental health awareness and to let people know that they are not alone in their struggles.
Guardians Mental Health will be leading the charge with promoting mental health awareness and breaking stigma surrounding mental health with a full month of engagements with events, live streams, activities, resources and more. Mental Health Awareness Month encourages us all to learn more, seek help, offer a supportive shoulder to others, and lower our guards, and open our hearts and minds to difficult conversations.
We have teamed up with Tiltify with a month long fundraiser campaign for Mental Health Awareness Month!
100% of all donations go to support our mental health kit program with providing someone in need a kit at no cost to them and other impactful programs.
Help promote mental health awareness for the month of May, together!
We wanted to make this year more impactful than ever before and created a special MH Awareness badge! We have two styles of badges to choose from for MH Awareness and ;IGY6 to uplift our Veteran/Active Duty community with a special badge as well. Join us all month long as a Guardian of Mental Health and display our 2023 Mental Health Awareness badge on your live streams, social media or anywhere else you want to make a positive impact.
If you would like to help support us during Mental Health Awareness Month please review our GMH Deck and Google drive to help support you!
Guardians MH Event Calendar for Mental Health Awareness Month
Join us all month long with engaging in fun and mindful ways to promote mental health awareness and make a lasting impact across the gaming community.
Every week this month, tune in for live streams featuring round table discussions on mental health topics, positive game nights with staff and community members, and more!
Mental Health In Gaming
Eyes up Guardians!
There is no denying that mental health is one of the most important topics of discussion and affects everyone in some way. Bungie Studios has taken massive steps for gamers everywhere. Dedicating a page on there website Bungie.net to providing access to mental health resources to millions of players around the world in collaboration with us at Guardians Mental Health. The site includes references for suicide prevention, self-harm, anxiety, depression, burnout and many more to use in time of need. The page also has resources include tips on learning the signs, anti-bullying measures to help victims, information on finding a mental health professional near you and other great resources for Guardians everywhere.
Bungie is a leader in the gaming space for accessibility to its player base. Taking huge strides in gaming as to provide access to Mental Health resources in-game during load screens in Destiny 2, where players who may be struggling can access meaningful resources and get the support they need. Bungie also leads in supporting many impactful causes and movements through its Inclusion clubs and shared passion for helping those in need of resources and/or a helping hand.
“Helping others is one of the most important things we can do as individuals,”. “ If you recognize when someone is going through a rough time in their life, you may be able to help them even if it’s just to show that you care and are there for them to lean on”. They continue to break down barriers and stigmas for the betterment of not only its player base but individuals everywhere.
How To Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month
We have compiled a variety of ideas for how you can boost Mental Health Awareness Month on your own, in your community or with your loved ones. We understand that this may stir up some strong emotions, so please feel free to take what resonates and leave what doesn't. We want you to know, Everything will be okay.
Activities
Support Mental Health Awareness Month by attending an event.
Participating in events in your community or online is an excellent way to learn more about mental health and connect with others who are willing to share their experiences. The National Mental Health Action Day on May 19 will bring organizations, agencies, and brands together to encourage people to get mental health support.
Organize your own event with friends and community members, contact elected officials, host a fundraiser or charity stream, host a walk or run, have a positive gaming night or invite a mental health professional to an event. Guardians MH will be hosting a charity stream May 27th and 28th with many content creators, Ambassadors, and staff members all weekend long if you would like to come join us and help us spread Mental Health Awareness and positive gaming.
Share your story.
Share your story and your experiences in a safe way as part of spreading awareness. As part of Guardians MH's mental health awareness campaign, people are encouraged to share their mental health experiences through social media and other platforms.
In addition, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health). Their website allows individuals to share their stories about mental health challenges, sharing your story can be helpful in your own recovery, and it can encourage and support others who are going through similar challenges.
Volunteer or donate
Make a difference by supporting a mental health organization you are passionate about with your time, talents, or finances! You can reach out and volunteer your time to aid in a meaningful effort or make a huge difference by donating to a national nonprofit or donating money to a local mutual aid fund that supports community members suffering from mental illness.
Play a Video Game
Video games can be used as a tool for self care during stressful moments. We can even play online games with our friends while maintaining social interactions and fostering community at the same time, regardless of where they are located.
By Learning
Educating yourself about your own mental health is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. Reach out to a Mental Health Professional to receive a Mental Health screening. It is an excellent opportunity to seek professional help (in the form of therapy), write about your experiences, or talk with a loved one who may also be experiencing a certain mental health issue.
Support a Mental Health Podcast, Author or Creator
Even though podcasts aren't a replacement for therapy or counseling, they sure can help us feel valued and understood - especially when they come from experts or people who have lived the experience. There are many professionals who wrote incredible books and series like our friends at Geek Therapeutics or Dr. Janina Scarlet, PhD. Visit twitch.tv/drmick for Licensed Therapist and host of Sessions with a Therapist. He loves gaming and creating a fun environment for his viewers. Shop around on social media and other apps to find some amazing professionals and advocates as well!
Take Care of Yourself
The phrase "self-care" is one of the biggest buzzwords these days, but we encourage you to create a strong, proactive plan for self-care that allows you to thrive.
Reaching out to a mental health professional can help provide you with support and guidance when face challenges, valuable insights, help you confront and heal from trauma, and give you the tools thrive in a healthier life.
Celebrate good news! Even the little things can have a big impact on our day, taking a moment to pat yourself on the back can be incredibly uplifting.
Take social media breaks. Cutting back 30 minutes a day of social media usage can increase user awareness, while improving both mood and focus.
Hydrate! Set reminders throughout the day to drink more water, your body and mind with thank you for it.
Get some more sleep. Not getting enough sleep can have huge impacts on our mental health and TikTok doesn’t help late at night. Try to make a sleep schedule and give yourself the rest you need to conquer the day.
Mediate. Meditation can give you a sense of calm, and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health. You can also use it to relax and cope with stress by refocusing your attention on something calming. Set aside at least 15-20 minutes throughout the day to mediate and center yourself and clear your mind during a busy day.
Share resources with others. Making mental health resources widely accessible makes it that much easier for even one person to get the help they need. When you’re sharing about mental health this month, be sure to make resources available.
Mental Health Resources
We have compiled some great meaningful resources on our Resources page. Visit our RTS library which provides on-demand mental health/crisis resources vetted by mental health professional with over 150 resources available to individuals when they need it most, and can be accessed via Web Browsers, Guardians MH APP, Twitch and Discord. If your on the go, check out the Guardians MH App available on Android and IOS for on the go resources and access to all of our digital mental health kits all in one place.
Get Help if You Need It
All of these action items and activities are a great way to get you and your community involved in the conversation surrounding mental health. However, we know that when you’re struggling with your mental health, it can be hard to find the help, support, and community you need.
If you are in immediate need of safety, please contact the following:
Emergency Medical Services
911
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line
Text CRISIS to 741-741
crisistextline.org
And if you are not in immediate crisis and would still like access to more resources, visit our list of Resources for more information.