3 meaningful ways you can make a difference this Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Mental Illness Awareness Week is about much more than charity runs. While fundraisers are a great way to break the stigma and support people suffering from mental health conditions, there are lots of other things you can do to help the cause.

1. Volunteer. Depending on where you live, there might be opportunities for you to lend a hand at a mental health-related event or for an organization. Simply Googling “volunteer mental health [your town or city]” will probably yield many options you can choose from. If not, consider starting your own event!
2. Educate yourself. One of the most powerful ways you can raise awareness about mental health is by familiarizing yourself with the issues and challenges. Understanding the complexities of mental health will help you be more empathetic and empower you to change the way people around you see mental health. If you’re unsure of where to start, the National Alliance on Mental Illness has an extensive list of books and movies you can go through.
3. Discuss it with friends and family. Many people still believe the topic of mental health is taboo, so it’s important to open up the dialogue and create safe spaces of discussion. You may have a loved one who is suffering in silence. Demonstrating your openness to understanding their experience will go a long way in helping them heal.

Keep up the conversation

Even though this week is about highlighting the subject of mental health, the conversation doesn’t stop there. We have a vast library of expert-led videos on mental health that our users can access 24/7, year-round. If you don’t have a LifeSpeak account, click here to see a sample of our resources.

Originally published at LifeSpeak.