May 2024

Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month

May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth! Many national organizations such as NAMI, Mental Health America, and partners highlight this cause each year.

Cascadia Health takes this chance to celebrate the strength and resilience of our community members who live with mental illness, while also highlighting the need for improved access to high quality mental healthcare. Simply put, we understand that #WholeHealth is impossible without mental health.

In fact, mental health challenges are common – 1 in 5 adults struggle with a mental health concern in any given year. Despite this far-reaching impact, stigma continues to affect our views on mental health, making it harder for those who are affected to manage or recover from their illness. Mental Health Awareness Month helps us shine a light on mental health and fight back against stigma, so we can all be empowered to live truly healthy, fulfilling lives.

All month, we invite our community to join in local activities and share information surrounding mental health.

- REACH OUT FOR HELP: Please write down the following phone numbers or take a picture with your phone.
- Multnomah County Crisis Line: 503-988-4888
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-271-8255
- National Association of Mental Illness, Oregon: 503-230-8009
- Cascadia Access, Information & Referral (CAIR): 503-674-7777

PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS – Share social media tools and printable flyers with the hashtag #TakeAMentalHealthMoment.
TAKE TIME TO BE MINDFUL – Join us every Wednesday and Thursday for a virtual mindfulness practice (Mindful Moments), where you will learn how to focus your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment to achieve better mental health. Everyone is welcome!
JOIN US FOR HEART 2024 – You’re invited to a month-long art installation highlighting the intersection of women, art, and mental health! Heart explores challenges unique to women in our community while working to reduce the stigma of mental illness and celebrating stories of hope and resilience.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH NAMIWALKS – Participate in NAMI’s largest mental health awareness and fundraising event, NAMI Walks. Locally, NAMI Walks Northwest returns on Saturday, May 18. Come walk a .5-mile loop around the beautiful Peninsula Park, home of Oregon’s oldest rose garden.