This content was created in partnership with IDONTMIND and adapted from “How to become a mental health advocate in 7 steps.”
1. Learn the basics of mental health
It’s important to make sure your understanding of mental health is informed, inclusive, and intersectional before you jump into advocacy work. Become familiar with the basics of what mental health is, the factors that can influence a person’s mental health, and the different ways we talk about it.
2. Understand mental health advocacy
An advocate is someone who actively supports and promotes a particular cause, often by raising awareness, speaking out, and taking action to bring about positive change.
A mental health advocate focuses their time advocating for issues related to mental health — such as reducing stigma, increasing access to care, and promoting overall mental well-being. Mental health advocates work to educate other people, provide support, and advocate for policies and resources that address the needs of individuals living with mental health conditions. They strive to create a more inclusive and supportive society for those affected by mental health struggles.
Sharing your story can fight stigma, build connections, and inspire change. As the person sharing, it can be healing to have someone else hear your story and experiences — whether that’s a friend, your social media followers, or an elected official. For the person listening, it could help give them the push they need to tell other people their own personal stories too. Additionally, personal stories can guide us in building communities that more effectively meet people’s needs by exploring what does and does not work.
Other ways to advocate for mental health include fighting for legislative and policy changes, creating mental health spaces online and offline, and disrupting systems that harm people living with mental health conditions.
3. Find inspiration
Learn about what other mental health advocates are doing to make a change in their communities, and get some ideas for what you could do to help yours. Advocacy can take so many forms — from podcasts to apps to policy.
4. Find your role
We all have unique strengths and interests. Let them guide you when you’re looking for your place in the mental health movement. Think about the things you’re good at (hint: Think about the things that other people come to you for help with).
Maybe all of your friends come to you when they need to vent, so you want to become a therapist or a peer support specialist. Maybe you want to change the law to make sure mental health education is included in schools. Maybe you use your story and experiences to write music or poetry.
Just as there are many ways to improve your mental health, there are many ways to advocate for mental health too. Every role is important in creating better communities and systems.
5. Find your advocacy community
You don’t have to start something brand new to make an impact.
There are many amazing organizations out there working to improve mental health, and they need your support to succeed. In addition to potentially building something by yourself, you can learn from the wisdom of other leaders, lift up the work of an existing project or organization, and create more collaborative communities.
Sign up for MHA’s Advocacy Network
6. Set a goal
When you set out to become a mental health advocate, think about what that means to you exactly: What do you want to accomplish? How do you know you’ve achieved it?
Set a goal for yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything big or revolutionary. Here are a few examples of simple and attainable goals you can start with:
- I will share my mental health story publicly and encourage others to do the same
- I will design and distribute a poster with mental health resources around my town
- I will fundraise $100 for a local mental health organization
- I will attend a school board meeting to talk about school mental health days
7. Take action
After exploring what’s important to you and how you want to show up as part of the mental health movement, it’s time to actually make connections and jump in on what feels right for you. Some examples include:
- Volunteering with a mental health organization in your community
- Starting a support group or local chapter of a mental health organization
- Working for policy changes to support mental health at your school or place of business
- Raising awareness and educating others about mental health
- Writing a letter to the editor
- Participating in an event that supports mental health such as a 5k, health fair, fundraiser, or something else Join MHA’s Be Seen in Green fundraiser in May!
- Sign up for advocacy alerts from MHA
- Contact your elected officials
- Being trained as a peer support specialist or crisis counselor for a hotline
- Join a digital community of mental health advocates
- Register for the Mental Health America Conference in Washington, D.C.
