CALS Community of Wellness tip: May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May 6, 2024 |

Here are some mental health statistics by the numbers, taken from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness):

One in five US adults experience mental illness each year
One in 20 US adults experience serious mental illness each year
One in six US youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
50 percent of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75 percent by age 24
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14

One thing to remember is we are not alone. Resources and people are available.

If you are responding to someone in need, here are a few tips from UHS Recognize, Respond, Refer:

For easy reference, here is a list of resources that may benefit you or someone you know:

EAO/LifeMatters (for employees)
- EAO: Lowell Center, 608-263-2987, eao@mailplus.wisc.edu
- LifeMatters: 1-800-634-6433, text “Hello” to 61295, https://members2.mylifematters.com/
UHS (for students), (https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/)
- No-cost mental health services include individual, couple/partner, group counseling, outreach programming, and stress management. 24/7 crisis services.
- (608) 265-5600 (option 2) to schedule an appointment
- 24/7 crisis support: (608) 265-5600 (option 9)
- Let’s Talk- Daily drop-in consultations with a counselor are available virtually and at various sites across campus.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- UW: https://www.namiuw.org/
- Dane County: https://www.namidanecounty.org/
- WI: https://namiwisconsin.org/
- National: https://www.nami.org/Home
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Just dial 988.

Check eCALS again next week (May 13) for 31 tips to boost your mental health.

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