What We Do
Community Education and Engagement
Mental Health Month
Mental Health America and our affiliates established May as Mental Health Month in 1949. Since then, the month-long observation has become a core initiative in the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention to millions of people nationwide. We welcome other organizations to join us in spreading the word that mental health is something everyone should care about by using the Mental Health Month toolkit materials and conducting awareness activities.
BIPOC Mental Health Month
Within BIPOC communities, mental health conditions are often compounded by other social inequities. This creates a unique and extensive list of challenges that need to be addressed in a unique and comprehensive way. To promote BIPOC Mental Health Month each July, Mental Health America provides tools and resources to communities nationwide that support awareness and understanding of mental health in BIPOC communities.
Mental Health America Conference
Each year, the Mental Health America Conference brings together affiliates, consumers, providers, family members, and advocates from across the country to talk about important and emerging mental health issues. The 2023 Mental Health America Conference will be taking place in Washington, DC and online from June 6-10, 2023.
Clifford Beers Society
The Clifford Beers Society connects leaders within the national mental health advocacy community who believe that supporting those affected by mental health conditions is a collective effort. Members are committed to prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; and integrated care, services, and supports for those who need them.
Back to School
Mental Health America’s Back to School Toolkit is released every August in anticipation of the start of the new school year. It provides free resources, tools, tips, and information for parents, teachers, and youth on early identification themes and other essential messages about mental health.
Webinars
Mental Health America's webinars bring timely and relevant information, helpful tools, and safe conversation to anyone interested in learning more about mental health, wherever they are on their journey. Our webinars are always recorded, free, and open to anyone wanting to join.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive information about upcoming webinars and watch past webinars.
Mental Health Screening and Research
Mental Health America Screening
Mental Health America Screening, our national prevention and screening program, is an interactive online space that connects people with tools they can use to improve their mental health. Through the program, participants can take an online screening to determine if they’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. The voluntary data from users helps to identify data-driven population health efforts toward prevention and early intervention of mental health conditions, promotion of mental well-being, and equitable allocation of mental health treatment and supports. Additionally, participants will receive customized support that meets them where they are, no matter the current state of their mental health.
The State of Mental Health in America Report
Our annual State of Mental Health in America report is among the most widely respected health reports in the nation. The report identifies a common set of data indicators for mental health that gives a more complete picture of mental health status in America. It also provides data on prevalence rates of mental health conditions for youth and adults, and data on access to care.
Mental Health America Mapping Project
For years, Mental Health America has been providing free, anonymous, and clinically-validated mental health screens on our website. To share this information with communities nationwide, Mental Health America created a publicly accessible dashboard where individuals can find detailed state and county data about suicidal ideation, severe depression, trauma, and psychosis.
The Mental Health America Mapping Project also includes information for stakeholders to make meaningful, data-driven changes through policy, programs, and research, and an option to partner with us.
Youth Programs and Peer Leadership
Young Leaders Council (YLC)
The Young Leaders Council (YLC) promotes young leaders and the unique ways they are driving change for their peers. YLC identifies young people (18-25 years old) who have created resources to fill gaps in mental health support in their communities. YLC brings together young leaders from across the United States to connect and share their ideas with the countless advocates working to improve youth and young adult well-being around the country.
Workplace Resources
Workplace Mental Health and Wellness
Mental Health America’s workplace efforts explore meaningful changes in company and managerial practices that support mentally healthy environments. Millions of employees spend a large part of their day, and lifetime, at work, increasing the effect that workplace environments can have on overall psychological well-being. Mental Health America’s research is part of an ongoing commitment to uncovering workplace disparities and addressing the psychological needs of the workforce.
Mind the Workplace Report
Our 2023 Mind the Workplace survey results show that workers thrive in a work environment where their identities are represented, acknowledged, valued, and trusted, particularly in a workplace where leadership and management demonstrate these values.
The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health
With 40 years’ experience in workplace mental health, Mental Health America developed a comprehensive set of standards to assess an employer’s policies and practices that support employee mental health and well-being. The Bell Seal considers both the 1 in 5 employees who will experience a mental health condition each year and the 5 in 5 employees who benefit from a worker-friendly, highly productive, and psychologically safe workplace.
An organization with Bell Seal certification will be recognized nationwide as a workplace that values mental health and a mentally healthy work environment for all employees.
Advocacy and Public Policy
Federal Policy
Since 1909, Mental Health America has advocated for legislation that supports people with mental health conditions and their families. We focus on prevention, early identification and intervention, access to integrated care, and insurance parity for people with mental health conditions. We’ll always prioritize individuals over interest groups.
Our expert staff and Public Policy Committee members produce well-researched policy statements on a wide range of issues – from civil liberties to children’s mental health – for public use. We work with policymakers to advance federal legislation, regulations, and agency activities that promote these priorities and position statements.
State Policy
Mental Health America is the national headquarters for a network of more than 200 affiliates around the country. Our affiliates work with state and local policymakers to develop and pass laws, regulations, and policies that promote mental health. Mental Health America and our affiliates meet through the Regional Policy Council to exchange best practices for regional, state, and local policy efforts and agency activities. Our state advocacy priorities include Medicaid expansion, integrating primary and mental health care services, and building peer supports, including recovery-oriented curricula. A full list of our priorities can be found in the Policy and Advocacy section of our website.
Regional Policy Council
The Regional Policy Council (RPC) has connected national and state policy and advocacy on mental health since its inception in 2009. In 2017, Mental Health America utilized the work of the RPC to build connections with leading state health policymaker organizations, including National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), National Governors Association (NGA), American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and the Council of State Governments (CSG). RPC meetings are now held four times a year and cover areas of interest to both state policy leaders and state-level advocates.
Capitol Hill Day
Each year, Mental Health America hosts Capitol Hill Day to connect mental health advocates with key decision-makers in Congress. Beginning with an in-depth training session on how to advocate on the Hill, the day culminates with in-person visits to federal legislators.
Policy Institute
Mental Health America's Policy Institute happens annually just prior to the conference. During the Policy Institute, MHA brings together the nation's leading experts to move policies and practices for early intervention further upstream, even during a crisis. Anyone may sign up to virtually attend this policy deep dive.
Information and Referral Services
The Center for Peer Support
Mental Health America’s Center for Peer Support has the latest information and promotional materials on peer support, certification, peer-run programs, support groups, and current research on the efficacy of peer support.
The Mental Health America Network
Mental Health America engages with 140+ affiliates across the U.S. and their community partners, government agencies, research partners, elected officials, corporate leaders and employers, funders, industry partners, and faith leaders to advance mental health wellness and promotion in all the spaces where people live, learn, work, play, and congregate.
Each Mental Health America Affiliate offers a unique blend of services and programs focused on meeting the needs of their community and/or states.
Consumer Advocacy
Mental Health America provides technical assistance to other community organizations, specifically consumer groups. Our staff members advise these organizations on best practices, including how to form a nonprofit board of directors. Additionally, Mental Health America regularly releases white papers to help consumer advocates in their work.