May is Mental Health Awareness Month

NAHRO joins in recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Since 1949, Mental Health America (MHA) and other affiliates across the country have observed Mental Health Awareness Month in May. With the pandemic and the economic crisis upending lives, people are realizing stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being.  

This year, the theme of MHA’s 2022 Mental Health Month Toolkit is “Back to Basics.” The goal is to provide foundational knowledge about mental health & mental health conditions and information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern. 

NAHRO member agencies continue to meet the needs of residents by providing mental health services for the communities they serve. Here are just a few examples:  

• The Fort Wayne Housing Authority River’s Edge is the first permanent supportive housing complex in northeast Indiana for people with disabilities who are homeless. In addition to providing vital housing, the complex offers supportive services coordinated by Park Center, a nonprofit mental health center. 
• The Housing Authority of the City of New Britain launched a paint night for residents aimed at providing a fun event that decreased the stigma associated with mental health care. The program also received a NAHRO Award of Excellence.    
• The Randolph County Housing Authority launched “Project Achieve”, which brought licensed mental health counselors and life coaches on-site to meet with residents and help them achieve a healthy and stable housing experience.   
• And the San Diego Housing Commission’s West Park Inn Rehabilitation project transformed an SRO hotel into 46 affordable units providing supportive services for seniors and adults with mental disabilities who previously experienced homelessness.  

If you have a project that provides mental health services and want to share with NAHRO please contact Libby Miller at lmiller@nahro.org.