BarCharts Publishing, Inc. announces its participation in the first-ever Mental Health Action Day, to be held on Thursday, May 20 in partnership with more than 1,000 leading brands, nonprofits, government agencies, and cultural leaders.

About Mental Health Action Day

Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement of brands, organizations, and cultural leaders to drive culture from mental health awareness to mental health action. The first Mental Health Action Day will take place on May 20, 2021 with a mission to encourage and empower people to take mental health action -- whether for themselves, for their loved ones, or to advocate for systemic changes -- because mental health is health. Learn more at www.MentalHealthActionDay.org

✦ First, let's talk about what mental health is* ✦

• Is emotional, psychological, and social well-being
• Influences how we act, think, feel, get along with others, handle stress, and make healthy choices
• Is important at every age
• Can change over time, especially during times of high stress
• Enables people to:
  – Cope with stresses in life
  – Be productive personally and professionally
  – Realize their full potential
  – Make meaningful contributions to their communities

Statistics In the United States*:

• 1 in 5 adults (43.4 million adults) experience a mental illness in a given year.
• 1 in 10 women reported symptoms of major depression in the last year.
• 1 in 25 people (9.8 million adults) live with a serious mental illness (e.g., major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia).
• More than 50% of people are diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder in their lifetimes.
• Only 44% of adults with diagnosable mental health problems receive treatment.
• Someone dies by suicide every 11 minutes.

*This information comes from the Mental Health: Signs & Support QuickStudy

✦ Mental Health Resources ✦

BarCharts has a new resource designed to help those just getting started on their mental health journey, or looking to support others facing challenges. The QuickStudy Mental Health: Signs & Support guide can offer guidance as it includes the most common mental health issues faced today in a stressful pandemic-driven start to the 2020s. A COVID section is included as well as existing concerns due to school shootings and other stressors before the pandemic started. We worked with our author and expert medical writer to offer an inexpensive starting point for research into getting help. Take action, and be one of those to reach out when you can see the signs it is needed.

SAVE 20% on QuickStudy Health & Wellness titles 5/20/21-5/27/21 using code 99-HEALTH20-21 at checkout.

Mental Health 101: To take control of our emotional health, we have to understand it. Learn about mental health, what influences it and ways to protect and improve it at the Mental Health is Health site.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

✦ Take Action ✦

This is the day to take action on your own mental health, as well as supporting those you love. From taking a yoga class to reaching out to a friend, taking action on mental health can be easy. If you don’t know where to start, check out MentalHealthisHealth.us.

Join us in spreading the word using #MentalHealthAction and help us move from a culture of awareness to action. Whether you take that first action for yourself, for your loved ones, or for your community - together we can move the needle on our collective wellbeing.