1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Patient
  4. May is Mental Health Month: Raising Mental Health Awareness

May is Mental Health Month: Raising Mental Health Awareness

Patient

For more than 65 years, Mental Health America (MHA), one of the United States’ leading community-based mental health advocacy groups, has observed the month of May as a month of education and awareness. Over the years, numerous organizations and health providers have supported this endeavor. In 2016, President Barack Obama issued a presidential proclamation, stating, “This month, we renew our commitment to ridding our society of the stigma associated with mental illness, encourage those living with mental health conditions to get the help they need, and reaffirm our pledge to ensure those who need help have access to the support, acceptance, and resources they deserve.”

Each year, Mental Health Month has a different theme. Music aficionados will likely recall Ian Dury’s 1977 punk classic, “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.” It also happens to be the theme of MHA’s 2017 conference. To that end, MHA decided to use the theme, Risky Business, for this May. MHA will focus its education and advocacy efforts on the “habits and behaviors that increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental illnesses, or could be signs of mental health problems themselves.”

In the last few years, American society has become much more accepting of certain forms of mental illness—but myths and misconceptions still abound. Experts estimate that approximately 1 in 5 Americans will experience some sort of mental health issue in their lifetime. So, the stakes are too high to keep our collective heads in the sand. What are some behaviors that fall under the MHA’s classification of risky business? There are a wide variety including risky sex, excessive spending, marijuana use, troublesome exercise and eating patterns, prescription drug misuse, and gaming addictions. Part of MHA’s goal is to better educate young people, as well as their parents and families, about how these risk factors may indicate an underlying issue with mental health—or even be an issue itself.

How can you get involved? It starts with learning more about Mental Health Month. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a host of opportunities so you can help spread MHA’s message of tolerance and understanding. You can take the #stigmafree pledge, and help change the way we think and talk about mental illness. You can get creative and find a way to share your own story regarding mental health. You can organize or participate in community events and activities that may be planned in your area. Or you can spend more time learning more about what it means to live with a mental health issue today in America.

Whatever you decide, your personal observance of Mental Health Month can help bring greater understanding about mental health and wellbeing to your peers and community. Get involved and help replace stigma with hope.

Note: In observance of Mental Health Month, GeneSight will be publishing posts about some of the habits and behaviors highlighted in MHA’s Risky Business campaign throughout the month.

Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider.

The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors.

If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful.
Healthcare Provider

PRIME Care Time-to-Event Analysis

In 2022, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) undertook the Precision Medicine in Mental Health Care, or PRIME Care study, the largest phar...

Read more

    Learn more

    Learn more about GeneSight
    How to talk to your provider
    View our clinical studies

    Take the next step with the GeneSight test

    Take a step closer to getting the GeneSight test or registering to provide the test to your patients. We will follow up with additional information either via email or phone.

    The GeneSight test must be ordered by a registered clinician. If you are a patient, caregiver or office staff who would like a clinician to be registered to administer the GeneSight test, please include their name and contact information.

    If you are a current registered provider or tested patient, please contact us.

    Take the Next Step - PD

    1. Step 1
    2. Step 2
    3. Step 3
    Please provide us with your name



    1. Step 1
    2. Step 2
    3. Step 3
    Please provide contact and clinic information
    Please provide contact information

    We are asking for Date of Birth for data verification purposes.










    We are asking for Date of Birth for data verification purposes.

    If you do not have a clinician, we have a directory of healthcare providers who are registered to order the GeneSight test. When you complete this form, we will link you to this directory, so you will have the option to view registered GeneSight providers in your area.







    Your clinician who is currently managing your medication and making treatment decisions can order your GeneSight test.

    If you do not have a clinician, we have a directory of healthcare providers who are registered to order the GeneSight test. When you complete this form, we will link you to this directory, so you will have the option to view registered GeneSight providers in your area.

    Please provide your clinician's information
    The GeneSight test must be ordered by your clinician








    1. Step 1
    2. Step 2
    3. Step 3

    How can we help?
    When completed, we'll follow up with more information
    Please let us know how we can best help you
    When completed, we'll follow up with more information


    Already taken the GeneSight test and need access to your results?








    Contact Information

    By submitting this form, you authorize Myriad to contact you about your inquiry via email and/or phone (including SMS/text message). Additionally, please note communications may be unsecure and carry typical risks associated with such transmissions. By submitting this form, you also acknowledge that you understand the foregoing warning and understand the typical risk of email and phone transmissions. For further information on our privacy practices, including information about opting-out of communications for Myriad, please visit our Privacy Notice and Notice of Privacy Practices.

    Chat