If you happen to come across a green ribbon while on social media, it’s because the month of May is devoted to Mental Health Awareness. The green ribbon is a symbol aimed at decreasing the stigma associated with mental health. Many people are afraid to talk about their thoughts and feelings, particularly when things in life aren’t going so well or feeling so great. It’s hard to feel like what you’re experiencing is normal or common if you don’t hear anyone else share their similar experiences. That is why this month is so important. Take the green ribbon as a little sign of encouragement that sharing your experience and being there to listen to a friend’s experience is needed and valued. You can make a difference this month (and every other month of the year) by letting others know they are not alone!

Some examples of ways to make a difference:

• Change your profile picture to the ribbon
• Ask a friend how they are feeling
• If you’re feeling sad, let others know. You aren’t expected to be happy all the time.
• Choose your words carefully. “Crazy” isn’t a catch-all word for those who are different.

There are many blog posts here and health guides on both the youngwomenshealth.org  and youngmenshealthsite.org websites that go into detail about the specifics of mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, coping with a loss, etc. that you can check out.

– LW