Mental health awareness is the first step to ending stigma and encouraging people who may be suffering from mental illness to seek help. It is also an important tool to educate loved ones and caregivers about the signs, symptoms and effects of mental illness, as well as to promote the availability of resources and support groups.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 19% of adults and 46% of teenagers have a mental health condition each year. These conditions affect our relationships, work and school performance and can lead to a higher risk of suicide. Yet only half of those who have a mental illness receive treatment. People who are living with a mental illness live in our neighborhoods and communities, teach our children, work beside us at the office and sit in our church pews. Yet, they often feel isolated because of the stigma attached to mental illness.

Studies have shown that raising mental health awareness leads to decreased stigma and promotes help-seeking behavior. This is especially true for students. For example, one study found that students who took an Abnormal Psychology course showed a higher level of mental health awareness and a lower stigma attitude. Additionally, another study showed that watching a video of someone who shared their own personal experiences with mental illness reduced stigma in young people.

Many celebrities, including Demi Lovato, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Taraji P. Henson, have openly shared their own struggles with mental health issues to promote awareness. However, until mental health education becomes a mandatory part of the curriculum, it’s critical that all of us recognize and understand the signs of mental illness so we can be better able to respond and advocate for those in need.