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In honor of Chester Bennington, show you Know the Five Signs #320ChangesDirection #IamtheChange

A WEEK TO CHANGE DIRECTION: JUNE 9-15 2019

Join us in June for A Week to Change Direction and the Jam!

A Week to Change Direction will be a week of action, advocacy, culture change and fundraising for organizations, corporations, universities, communities, and individuals! Our aim is to increase knowledge, raise awareness and increase support for efforts that are working to change the culture of mental health globally so that all in need receive the care and support they deserve.

LEARN more and REGISTER here!

The Campaign Goal

The goal of the Campaign to Change Direction is to change the culture of mental health so that all of those in need receive the care and support they deserve. The Campaign encourages everyone to pay attention to their emotional well-being – and it reminds us that our emotional well-being is just as important as our physical well-being.

PLEDGE TO KNOW THE FIVE SIGNS

In order to change our culture, we have to start with a common language, and learn the Five Signs.

What Can I Do To #ChangeMentalHealth?

Thank You for Helping Us Change Direction!

Learn the Healthy Habits of Emotional Well-being…

Take Care

Take care of you. Eat, sleep and be active. We don’t often think about how important these basic activities are to our mental health – but they are critical!

Check In

Get checkups. We get check-ups for our physical health and for our teeth. We even take our cars in for check-ups. It’s time to take responsibility and get check-ups for our emotional well-being. Talk with your doctor, a counselor, a faith-based leader… and your family and friends to make sure you are doing well emotionally.

Engage

Engage and connect wisely. Pay attention to your relationships. We can’t be healthy if our relationships are not.

Relax

Be active, meditate, garden, dance, love, cook, sing…

Know

Learn the Five Signs of emotional suffering. And if you see them in someone you love, reach out, connect and offer to be of help.

And Know the Five Signs that may mean someone is in emotional pain and might need help:

Personality Change

Their personality changes. You may notice sudden or gradual changes in the way that someone typically behaves. He or she may behave in ways that don’t seem to fit the person’s values, or the person may just seem different.

Agitation

Agitated

They seem uncharacteristically angry, anxious, agitated, or moody. You may notice the person has more frequent problems controlling his or her temper and seems irritable or unable to calm down. People in more extreme situations of this kind may be unable to sleep or may explode in anger at a minor problem.

Withdrawal

Withdrawn

They withdraw or isolate themselves from other people. Someone who used to be socially engaged may pull away from family and friends and stop taking part in activities he or she use to enjoy. In more severe cases the person may start failing to make it to work or school. Not to be confused with the behavior of someone who is more introverted, this sign is marked by a change in someone’s typical sociability, as when someone pulls away from the social support he or she typically has.

Poor Self-care

Poor Self-Care

They stop taking care of themselves and may engage in risky behavior. You may notice a change in the person’s level of personal care or an act of poor judgment on his or her part. For instance, someone may let his or her personal hygiene deteriorate, or the person may start abusing alcohol or illicit substances or engaging in other self-destructive behavior that may alienate loved ones.

Hopelessness

They seem overcome with hopelessness and overwhelmed by their circumstances. Have you noticed someone who used to optimistic and now can’t find anything to be hopeful about? That person may be suffering from extreme or prolonged grief or feelings of worthlessness or guilt. People in this situation may say that the world would be better off without them, suggesting suicidal thinking.

If you recognize that someone in your life is suffering, now what?

You connect, you reach out, you inspire hope, and you offer help. Show compassion and caring and a willingness to find a solution when the person may not have the will or drive to help him- or herself. There are many resources in our communities. It may take more than one offer, and you may need to reach out to others who share your concern about the person who is suffering. If everyone is more open and honest about mental health, we can prevent pain and suffering, and those in need will get the help they deserve.

Find help

Do you speak Spanish or Nepali? Check out our translated tools!

Public Service Announcements to Share

Military communities, service members, veterans, and their families

Hispanic/Latino communities (in English)

Hispanic/Latino communities (in Spanish)

Culture change happens faster if leaders and champions step forward to set examples for others to follow.

Film Changes Direction

As we know, films play a critical role in our society. They reflect our culture and shape our perceptions, attitudes, and behavior. Film Changes Direction, a new feature of the campaign, identifies and promotes films that engage, inspire, and educate.

Learn how Film Changes Direction

Share Our PSA!

Help us spread the word and #changementalhealth by sharing our Jumbotron Public Service Announcement/PSA.

As a longtime advocate for some of the most vulnerable members of our society, we are honored that Richard Gere has lent his powerful voice in this public service announcement to help us educate all Americans about the Five Signs of Emotional Suffering and ensure those in need receive the support they deserve so we can all be part of the solution to end homelessness.

Join the Conversation

Show you Know the Signs! Take a selfie with the message “I know the signs,” OR tell us who you are learning the signs for OR who you are sharing the signs with, on your hand. Five fingers, Five Signs. Help your message spread by tagging others and using the hashtag #ChangeMentalHealth.

Make a Pledge

Pledge to learn the Five Signs and help change the national conversation about mental health.

Need Help?

Reach out to the resources in your communities. Get the help you deserve.

Pledge Tools

Downloadable Tools

18.2

Americans have a mental health condition

69.7

was spent on mental health care in the United States in one year

of those who are homeless have a mental illness

of people who die by suicide have a mental disorder.

Seven regions have joined the Campaign to Change Direction!

Take a look at how they are making in impact in their areas and, if you live in one of these regions, join their effort.

View Regional Pledges

Stay in the know with articles, events and press coverage of the Campaign.

Read the News

Looking for a way to support the Campaign to Change Direction?

Shop through one of our partners to raise funds for Give an Hour, the lead organization behind the Campaign.

Shop Now

In 2015, Give an Hour launched the Campaign to Change Direction to change the culture of mental health so that all in need are able to receive the care and support they deserve. Just as we know the signs of a heart attack, we can all learn the Five Signs of emotional suffering that tell us someone is in pain and needs help. By harnessing the skills and generosity of those willing to give, Give an Hour provides help and hope to those in need. Learn more at giveanhour.org.

We are proud to announce that Give an Hour has received a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator! Attaining a 4-star rating indicates that Give an Hour exceeds industry standards and outperforms most nonprofits in our area of focus. This is an exceptional designation from Charity Navigator that sets Give an Hour apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.

#ChangeMentalHealth make a pledge