Join The JED Foundation In Raising Awareness About Mental Health In May

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month…and the JED Foundation is asking people to join them in raising awareness about the importance of mental health and helping to “create the safety net young people desperately need”.   

Scientific evidence reveals the deep impact things like sleep, exercise, therapy, social connections with others and being mindful of what we eat and drink can have on our overall health and the way we manage stress.  

Another way we can help is to advocate for suicide prevention, educate others about the importance of mental health, and share how to support those around us who have been affected by suicide.  We can point those who are struggling to useful resources like the JED Foundation

What Does The JED Foundation Do?

The JED Foundation works to protect emotional health and helps to prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults.

Their work is rooted in the Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention, originally adapted from the U.S. Air Force’s suicide prevention strategy and honed by two decades of experience.

 Today, JED’s work centers on three areas of focus to give teens and young adults the skills and support they need to thrive: Equipping Individuals, Strengthening Schools, and Mobilizing Communities.

Equipping Individuals

Research shows that building resiliency and life skills, promoting social connectedness, and encouraging help-seeking and help-giving behaviors in teens and young adults have far-reaching benefits, helping them manage life’s challenges and getting them to a point of thriving in life.  JED’s Mental Health Resource Center, campaigns, and partnerships engage teens and young adults where they are--  in a relatable way.

Strengthening Schools

School is a critical part of students’ support network and emotional safety net. JED partners with colleges and universities, high schools, and pre-K–12 school districts, as well as a variety of youth-serving community organizations, to evaluate their needs, create a strategic plan, and help them implement systems, programs, and policies. The goal is to create a culture of caring that protects student mental health, builds life skills, and makes it more likely students who need help will seek it.

Mobilizing Communities

Our mental health is impacted by the world around us, and many factors can influence the perspective, well-being, and behaviors of our teens and young adults. JED advocates for policies that create a culture of caring to protect youth mental health.  Corporate partners help to spread awareness, spark crucial conversations and raise funds to prevent suicide and boost teen and young adult well-being.

For more information about JED, visit Join JED this Mental Health Awareness Month!

For information about suicide prevention in NH, visit www.zerosuicidesnh.org.