Advocacy
These are just a few of the many ways that you can be a mental health advocate. Together we can break the stigma surrounding mental health. All you need to do is take a stand, and play your part in mental health advocacy.
How can I be a mental health advocate?
There are a multitude of ways you can be a mental health advocate and take part in raising mental health awareness:
Educate your friends, family, peers, on the importance and value of mental health
Volunteer at local mental health organizations
Participate in mental health fundraisers or events
Donate to various mental health organizations/nonprofits
Take initiative and do/create something to increase mental health awareness and education in your community
Support someone dealing with mental health challenges
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper bringing light to a related issue or promoting a bill supporting mental health
Contact your representatives
Contact your local lawmakers and encourage them to vote for and pass bills supporting and advocating mental health. Passing bills supporting mental health can be immensely beneficial, for many reasons; for instance, bill SB 221 guaranteed Californians timely therapy sessions for mental health and substance use disorder. It is incredibly important to bring your concerns, ideas, and issues to the attention of lawmakers. Your support is absolutely key to the passage of additional bills/pieces of legislation aimed towards addressing and solving this very much real and significant issue of mental health.
You can find your representative here: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
Pending Legislation: