What comes to mind when you think about the month of May?

When I was younger, I associated this month with budding tulips and pretty pastel dresses. As I grew older, my definition of May transitioned into one of final exams and graduation caps. While these interpretations are both accurate, they fail to acknowledge one of May’s most important roles: Mental Health Awareness Month.

Since 1949, May has been dedicated to raising awareness and support for the mental health community. Moreover, while substantial progress has been made over the years, there is still room for improvement with regard to how our society handles mental disorders. In order to allow for further change, we must embrace the intentions of this month. We need to push past the stigmas and fully acknowledge the topic of mental health in the following ways:

1: Education: “Not all wounds are visible.”

First and foremost, this month is a time for education. For people who have not experienced mental illness first-hand, the topic can be hard to grasp. Unlike physical ailments, mental disorders are obscure and difficult to detect in daily interaction. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that mental illnesses are very real and damaging conditions which must be treated with respect and urgency.

It is also important to understand that like physical illnesses, there are various types of mental illnesses. As a society, we readily acknowledge the existence of many forms of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and that each condition warrants its own unique drug or treatment. Unfortunately, our society does not have this same “black and white” understanding of mental illnesses. Instead of labeling a person as Bipolar II, Clinically Depressed, or ADHD, we say that they are “moody,” “sad,” or “easily-distracted.” Moreover, our society has also turned serious mental disorders into adjectives for everyday conversations. By saying “Her legs look anorexic,” or “His project looks so OCD,” we are generalizing and downplaying serious conditions that plague the lives of millions of people, which is both unfair and unacceptable.

2: Speak Up: “Don’t be ashamed of your story. It will inspire others.”

Aside from education, this month is also a time for people who suffer from mental illness to speak up. Sharing stories is extremely beneficial in achieving awareness and support within the mental health community. If you suffer from any type of mental illness, do not feel ashamed to tell people about it. Do not try to sugar-coat or mask your feelings. By talking about your struggles, you are not only helping others to better understand what it is like to live with mental illness, but you are also helping yourself. Talking not only opens the door for support, but it also enables people to relate to you and remind you that you are not alone in your struggles. Let this month be a time where society breaks the silence about mental illness. It is time to speak up and connect with one another.

3: Look Around: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle that you know nothing about.”

While some people may feel comfortable talking about their mental health, others do not. Take this month as an opportunity to look more closely at the people around you. Understand that mental illness does not have an age, a gender, or a race. Mental illness can impact anyone, and in many cases, the signs are not obvious. Anxiety does not have a face. Anorexia does not have a body type. Depression does not have a wardrobe. Everyone with a mental illness has their own story, so take the time to talk to people before making any assumptions about their situations.

4: Reach Out: “Mental illness is not contagious. You cannot catch it by being nice.”

While education and talking are essential steps in raising awareness for mental illness, reaching out to those suffering from such illnesses is the final and most important step in achieving change. It is one thing to be aware that someone is in pain, but it is another thing to do something about it. Be kind. Be supportive. Be someone’s hero. If you know someone who is suffering from a mental illness, reach out to them. Remind them that they are special, loved, and that their life is worth living. Even small gestures such as saying “You look nice.” or “How are you?” can make a huge difference to someone who feels alone in the world. One kind word can make someone’s day, and a smile can save a life.

5: Not Just a Month: “Mental health matters. People matter. You matter.”

Finally, while May is a great time to learn about mental illness and reach out to those impacted by it, the topic is far bigger than just one month. Mental illness is an issue that can impact people at any time and to any degree. For many people, every single day is a battle filled with new obstacles and triggers. So while the month of May is coming to a close, it is important that the awareness and support for the mental health community continues to grow past this month. Instead of confining kindness and openness into a 31-day period, we must make a habit of always accepting and supporting the people around us.

both during this month and beyond. Keep fighting, keep looking toward the future, and remind know that,

"What's broken can be mended. What hurts can be healed. And no matter how dark it gets, the sun is going to rise again."

You can do this.