During the month of May, the American Counseling Association (ACA) joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Established in 1949, Mental Health Month sought to put a spotlight on the importance of mental health and wellness. Each year we continue to fight against the stigma associated with mental health, provide support for those with mental illness and the counselors supporting them, as well as advocate for policies on behalf of those with mental illness and their loved ones.

While 1 in 5 people will experience mental illness over the course of their lifetimes, everyone will face challenges that can and will affect their mental health. Licensed professional counselors play a critical role in providing care and guidance for those who are struggling with mental health. ACA members all across the country are dedicated to assisting anyone who is struggling with mental health.

This year, our slogan for Mental Health Month is #BeKindtoYourMind. We encourage you to join us as we highlight the significance of mental health awareness and how counselors are able to help!

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Be Kind To Your Mind: #ToolsToThrive and Resources to Help You Every Day

Explore our Mental Health Month-featured tools and resources for professional counselors below.

• Ethnicity, Life Satisfaction, Stress, Familiarity, and Stigma Toward Mental Health Treatment
  Familiarity with mental health treatment plays a moderating role in the relationship between self- and public stigma and positive attitudes toward seeking mental health care.
• The Power of Language and Labels: “The Mentally Ill” Versus “People With Mental Illnesses”
  Words and labels matter. This study provides direct evidence of the effects of person‐first language on tolerance.
• Self‐Stigma, Mental Health Literacy, and Attitudes Toward Seeking Psychological Help
  This study highlights the importance of both decreasing self‐stigma and enhancing mental health literacy to facilitate positive attitudes toward seeking professional help, particularly among underserved, minority college students.
• Help wanted: Managing work stress
• Counseling from an editor’s perspective 
• Helping clients build their life rafts
• Moving through trauma
• Cultivating a practice of mindfulness
• Building client and counselor resilience
• Deconstructing anxiety
• Digesting the connection between food and mood  

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