Easy Ways to Get Involved: Mental Health Awareness Month

The snow is long gone and the grass is getting greener every day. May is a time for baseball games, barbecues, flower blossoms, and most importantly . . . Mental Health Awareness Month!

Community members often ask us how they can get more involved in mental health and suicide prevention efforts. Depending on what the person is looking to do, we always try to suggest a couple of opportunities that may fit what they are looking for.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I thought it would be a good idea to share some ways that YOU can get involved!

1. Share your story. There are several web sites that allow people to share their personal stories of struggle, hope, and recovery. Sharing your own story can be very therapeutic as well as empowering! Go to, http://www.nami.org/get-involved/share-your-story to share your story or email The Kim Foundation to be considered as a guest writer in our monthly online newsletter!

2. Use a Hashtag. If you Tweet, use #mentalillnessfeelslike to share your thoughts and join in the conversation. Go to, https://twitter.com/ to sign on or start a Twitter account.

3. Start the conversation in your community. Are you a member of a church, professional group, or school? Invite The Kim Foundation to come and speak with your group and start the conversation. Go to https://www.thekimfoundation.org/ to schedule a presentation today!

4. Take mental health screening. If you’ve had trouble sleeping, change in appetite, if you’ve been experiencing racing thoughts, or if you’re just curious, go to Mental Health America to take an anonymous screening. Go to http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-screening-tools to get started.

5. Reach out to a local mental health organization and see if there are any opportunities to volunteer your time and talents.

Jill Hamilton, Project Coordinator, The Kim Foundation

Jill Hamilton has been the Project Coordinator at The Kim Foundation since 2014. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from The University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2009. Since working at the foundation, she has become an active member of the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition, Nebraska LOSS Advisory Committee, The Omaha Metro Hoarding Taskforce, The Early Childhood Mental Health Coalition, Nebraska State Conference Planning Committee, is Chair of the Nebraska LOSS Teams Conference Planning Committee, and serves as the Outreach Coordinator for the Metro Area LOSS Team.