Increasing Mental Health Awareness Through Community Outreach: Mental Health Month 2021
Since 1949, Mental Health America and our affiliates across the country have observed May is Mental Health Month by reaching out to millions of people through the media, local events, and screenings. Each year, MHA releases a May is Mental Health Month toolkit that includes sample communications materials as well as printable handouts and worksheets. The 2021 toolkit is focused on the theme Tools 2 Thrive, providing practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase their resiliency regardless of their personal situation.
We invite other organizations to join us in spreading the word that mental health is something everyone should care about by using the May is Mental Health Month toolkit materials and conducting awareness activities in your own communities.
Join us for this 60-minute webinar where we will discuss:
- What’s included in MHA’s 2021 Mental Health Month toolkit;
- How to use the toolkit content on social media to promote Mental Health Month;
- Examples of outreach events to increase mental health awareness; and
- How community-based organizations have used these materials.
This webinar will be recorded and available to the public within 1 week. We do not offer CEUs, but certificates of attendance will be available after the event.
Meet the Speakers
America Paredes is MHA’s Vice President of Partnerships & Community Outreach. In this role, she works to educate the community about MHA and its programs, as well as researching, engaging, and developing strategic partnerships that further MHA's mission and vision. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the provision of technical assistance to mental health consumers, consumer-run organizations, behavioral health professionals and the general public. Additionally, America participates in the implementation of MHA's social media strategy and manages several of MHA's social media platforms. America is also a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor and is fluent in Spanish.
Whitney Ball is the Associate Director of Marketing and Outreach at MHA. She helps manage the organization’s associate membership program as well as other outreach and advocacy efforts. Whitney’s previous experience includes advocating for mental health at both the local and national levels. Most recently, she served on the communications and marketing team at the National Council for Behavioral Health.
Whitney’s own lived experience, and the experiences of those close to her, help drive her passion for mental health awareness and early intervention. She is dedicated to normalizing conversations about mental health concerns. Whitney, a Texas native, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Trinity University and is currently working on her master’s in social work at Boston University.
Marcie Timmerman serves as Executive Director for Mental Health America of Kentucky. She has been a mental health advocate in Kentucky for 15 years and has worked in social media messaging and grassroots connecting for several organizations over that time.