News & Events

Awareness Months

On this page we will highlight national awareness months related to mental health and substance use/misuse.

OCTOBER is National Depression Awareness Month and Mental illness awareness week

October Awareness Month

Mental health conditions affect everyone, including friends, family members, and colleagues of those who may not personally experience these challenges. In the United States, one in five adults faces a mental health condition annually, which in turn influences the lives of their loved ones. Since 1990, the first full week of October has been recognized as Mental Illness Awareness Week, a designation achieved through the advocacy of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to raise awareness about this important issue. This year, Mental Illness Awareness Week will take place from October 6 to 12, coinciding with World Mental Health Day on October 10.

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Mental Health Statistics

  • 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year
  • 1 in 20 U.S. adults experiences serious mental illness each year
  • 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experiences a mental health condition each year
  • In 2023, 53.9% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment

Workplace Mental Health Awareness

  • 74% of full-time employees in the U.S. say it’s appropriate to discuss mental health concerns at work. Only 58% say they feel comfortable doing so.
  • 1 in 3 full-time employees say their mental health has declined because of work in the past year.
  • Burnout is a common problem, with over half of respondents reporting feelings of burnout. Half (52%) of employees reported feeling burned out in the past year because of their job, and 37% reported feeling so overwhelmed it made it hard to do their job.

Access to Services, Care, and Support

  • 83% of employees agree mental health and well-being training would be important in creating a positive workplace culture. But 7 in 10 senior-level employees say they haven’t received training to talk about mental health at work.
  • 9 in 10 employees say employer-sponsored mental healthcare coverage is important for creating a positive workplace culture. This is true for employees regardless of gender, age, stage in career, or managerial status.
  • 1 in 4 employees say they don’t know if their employer offers mental health coverage, showing the need for more communication from employers about mental health.
    Get more stats about the state of mental health at work at nami.org/2024Workplace.

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Resources: