Despite the large number of people who experience mental illness, not just in our country, but around the world, there is still a lot of misinformation and stigma around the topic of mental health. At Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health, in Leland, North Carolina, we think it’s important, not just during Mental Health Awareness Month, but also during the rest of the year, to discuss mental health and ways the broader community can help to make the world a better place for people with mental illnesses.
SAMHSA’s 2026 Mental Health Awareness Campaign
Each year, there is a new theme for Mental Health Awareness Month. This year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Alliance (SAMHSA) is using the theme, “See the Person. Support the Journey.” The focus of this year’s campaign is on:
Recognizing Early Signs of Mental Illness, Particularly In Children and Teens
- Most serious mental health conditions begin in adolescence or early adulthood.
- Rapid assessment and access to services improve outcomes.
- Parents and caregivers are positioned to get young people help if they recognize the signs of a mental health disorder.
- Teaching young people about mental health and providing an invitation to discuss their questions and concerns about mental health can help them to self-identify the need for support.
Strengthening Understanding and Support For People With Mental Health Conditions
- Mental illness impacts how a person thinks, acts, feels, and engages with the world around them.
- Serious mental illnesses can disrupt work, school, relationships, and self-care.
- Mental health disorders can lead to financial struggles, homelessness, job loss, and inability to get medical care, when the world around them does not understand and respond with compassion to mental health concerns.
- Employment assistance, stable housing, healthcare, and community resources are important factors in supporting mental health stability and well-being.
Responding With Care And Compassion When People With Mental Health Disorders Are Struggling
- When families and community members speak about mental health struggles with respect and compassion, it reduces stigma and makes it safer for people to seek help.
- People with mental health struggles are more likely to trust people around them as sources of support if they know they will be met with compassion and empathy.
NAMI’s Approach to Mental Health Awareness Month
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has its own theme for 2026, which is “You are not alone.” Their focus is on sharing stories about mental illness and recovery, to break the silence around mental illness and reduce stigma. Their recommended steps for this month include:
- Getting involved in your local NAMI Chapter to get support, build community, and learn more about mental illness
- Becoming active in advocating for changes to mental health responses
- Learning about the NAMI HelpLine that is available for people who are struggling with mental illness and people who want to help someone who is struggling
- Volunteering with mental health related programs
- Becoming familiar with 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Mental Health Awareness Month the MHA Way
Mental Health America (MHA) chose the theme of “More Good Days, Together” for their 2026 Mental Health Awareness Month Theme, and their focus is on:
- Remember what a good day looks like for each of us
- Connecting people to the right resources, at the right time
- Building advocacy, education, and engagement around helping people with mental illness to have more good days
MHA also offers a free online screening tool that people can use to explore their mental health symptoms and determine if it might be time to reach out for professional support.
At Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health, we recognize that our patients are part of families, communities, and the wider world. While our primary focus is on treating the patients we are serving within our acute care hospital, we also work to include their support systems in their treatment plan by offering family support and planning for the most seamless transition possible, back to their regular lives, following treatment. We do this for all of the patients in our adolescent, adult, and older adult patient programs.
