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Mental Health Association in New Jersey
Celebrates May is Mental Health Month
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Importance of Knowing When Behaviors and Habits Can Be Unhealthy
When you or someone you love is dealing with a mental health concern, sometimes it's a lot to handle. It's important to remember that mental health is essential to everyone's overall health and well-being and mental illnesses are common and treatable. Yet, people experience symptoms of mental illnesses differently-and some engage in potentially dangerous or risky behaviors to avoid or cover up symptoms of a potential mental health problem.
That's why the Mental Health Association in New Jersey is joining with Mental Health America to focus on the
Risky Business
theme. This topic serves as a call to educate ourselves and others about habits and behaviors that increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental illnesses or could be signs of mental health problems themselves. Activities like compulsive sex, recreational drug use, obsessive internet use, excessive spending, or disordered exercise patterns can all be behaviors that can disrupt someone's mental health and potentially lead them down a path towards crisis.
"It is important to understand early symptoms of mental illness and know when certain behaviors are potentially signs of something more," said Carolyn Beauchamp, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. "We need to speak up early and educate people about risky behavior and its connection to mental illness-and do so in a compassionate, judgement-free way."
Please watch for more information via email and join us on
Facebook,
Twitter and
LinkedIn to keep the #riskybusiness conversation going.
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Good Stuff to Explore
Interested in a mental health screening?
Want to draw the line for risky business?
Click here
to consider "what's too far" via Mental Health America's interactive quiz.
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Worried about the Risky Business
of Drug Misuse?
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And There's More!
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Childen's Mental Health Awareness Week is
May 1 through 7, featuring the theme,
Finding Help, Finding Hope.
As national events continue to illuminate the critical need for mental health care reform in this country, we must increase our efforts to educate the nation about the importance of prevention and early identification of mental health challenges. We must also highlight the fact that children are an integral part of a family unit and create an understanding among policy leaders and practitioners that healthy families are better equipped to support resilient children. Legislation, policies, and practices must fully endorse the undisputed importance of full family engagement and participation in the care and treatment of their children. Further, we must advocate for a holistic approach to children's mental health that includes the provision of supports that strengthen the family as they nurture resiliency. Click here for more information.
Watch for your inbox for more information about
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, which is May 4.
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Here are a Few of the
Activities We Have Planned for
Mental Health Month:
5th Annual NBC4/T47 Health and Fitness Expo presented by Quest Diagnostics
Visit MHANJ's Booth, featuring mental health screening,
a fun game with giveaways and information.
May 6 and 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MetLife Stadium,
1 MetLife Stadium Drive,
East Rutherford
(No cost for entrance.)
MHANJ in Atlantic County's
Evening of Wellness
This community-wide celebration and charity auction recognize the work of those who have made an exceptional contribution to the field of mental health/addictions.
Delicious hors d'oeuvres and desserts will be included.
May 15, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Ram's Head Inn, 9 W. White Horse Pike, Galloway
MHANJ in Ocean County's Open House
Visit MHANJ in Ocean County's new office and learn about all of our Ocean County programming.
Light refreshments and giveaways will be available.
May 17, 3 to 7 p.m.
MHANJ Office, 25 South Shore Drive, Toms River
Watch for more news
and information to come!
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