Mental Health Awareness Month was first recognized in the United States in 1949. It was founded by Mental Health America, an organization that raises awareness and educates the public about mental illness, including conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, and schizophrenia, and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Raising awareness around the trauma and societal impact that mental illness can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families, and communities as a whole is extremely important. Below is a list of media recommendations, resources, and upcoming programs at WML.

Books, Podcasts, Movies & More

Book Recommendations
 - Black Cake (Fiction)
 - Brave Every Day (Kids)
 - Girl in Pieces (YA)
 - Reasons to Stay Alive (Non-Fiction)

Audiobook Recommendations
 - The Deepest Well
 - We're Not Broken
 - How to Come Alive Again
 - What Happened to You?

Podcast Recommendations
 - Inside Mental Health
 - The Anxiety Coaches
 - Therappuccino
 - The Courageous Life

Movie Recommendations
 - Silver Linings Playbook
 - The Soloist
 - (500) Days of Summer
 - Girl, Interrupted

Resources

MentalHealth.gov

MentalHealth.gov provides one-stop access to U.S. government mental health information. MentalHealth.gov aims to educate and guide:

 - The general public
 - Health and emergency preparedness professionals
 - Policy makers
 - Government and business leaders
 - School systems
 - Local communities

More Info

MA Department of Mental Health
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, as the State Mental Health Authority, assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages; enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities.

More Info

Mental Health America
Mental Health America (MHA)'s work is driven by its commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need them; with recovery as the goal.

More Info

For a full and up-to-date list of programming, refer to our events calendar.