Why National Mental Health Awareness Month Matters More Than Ever

Mental health was an issue long before the COVID-19 pandemic catapulted it to peak numbers of people reporting mental illness, lack of access to care and resources, and losses to mental health issues. And mental health awareness has been consistently advocated for years. In fact, Mental Health Awareness Month was first celebrated in 1949, but wasn’t officially recognized until May 2021, when President Biden proclaimed May as the designated month.