It's Mental Health Awareness Month: What Will You Do?

May is "Mental Health Awareness Month." What will you do to contribute to the cause?

There's no question, many people are suffering. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), over 20% of American adults (more than 50 million) experience some sort of mental illness every year. More than half of U.S. adults with a mental illness (55%) are not getting treatment, according to a recent study by Mental Health America. And it's not just adults who are hurting as 1 in 6 kids ages six to seventeen in the U.S. experience a mental health disorder.

If you or someone you love is experiencing mental challenges, seek help. We all pat people on the back when they say they've started enlisting the help of a personal trainer. I'm hopeful that is how we can see therapy; IE: we've enlisted the help of a personal mind-trainer. There are affordable options out there.

Or if you'd like to add financial support, there are many organizations doing great work. One such organization is Mental Health America.

But I believe there's another, less obvious issue facing so many of us. I call it Sleepwalking Through Life. You may be familiar with the feeling.

Waking up feeling generally apathetic about the day in front of you. Habitually going through your day (research estimates that generally 40%-50% of your actions throughout the day are habitual). Thinking the same thoughts. (According to the National Science Foundation, 95% of our thoughts are repetitive). Reacting to life like a pinball getting bounced around. You go through the motions at work. (According to a recent Gallup article, only 23% of workers worldwide are actively engaged in their jobs.) And then you go home hoping to numb out and get to watch a few episodes of your favorite show.

If you do feel like you're sleepwalking through life, I guarantee you are not alone. But maybe it's not your fault. You never got to take a class on how to live a fulfilling life. No one showed you what the research has proven leads to a deeper sense of engagement and meaning in life. Perhaps you didn't have access to a class on choosing a well aligned career. And maybe, you just didn't make the time for yourself....yet. Maybe, with it being Mental Health Awareness Month , it's the perfect time for you to focus on you and to start living much more intentionally. The online course I've created is here for YOU! "Thriving 101: Designing a Fulfilling Life & Career."

Open to anyone. Self-paced. Start anytime. Free (unless you opt to receive the certificate.)

When people ask what you're doing to contribute to solving the mental health challenges in the world, I encourage you to have an answer. Maybe it's, "I'm helping people who need mental health support, find affordable help." Or maybe it's, "I'm making regular contributions to Mental Health America (or the like)." Or maybe it's, "I'm working on myself. I'm working on being more engaged and fulfilled so that I can offer more to others. I'm taking "Thriving 101" and sharing the course with others who could benefit from it."

No matter what you're doing, I thank you for doing something! It matters. You matter.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”?? -Margaret Mead