The Current Story
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.
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.
An unprecedented and unique group of leaders have come together to spark a movement to #ChangeMentalHealth.
We are at a crossroads when it comes to how our society addresses mental health. We know that one in five of our citizens has a diagnosable mental health condition, and that more Americans are expected to die this year by suicide than in car accidents. While many of us are comfortable acknowledging publicly our physical suffering, for which we almost always seek help, many more of us privately experience mental suffering, for which we almost never reach out.
The Change Direction initiative is a collection of concerned citizens, nonprofit leaders, and leaders from the private sector who have come together to change the culture about mental health, mental illness, and wellness. This initiative was inspired by the discussion at the White House National Conference on Mental Health in 2013, which came on the heels of the Newtown, Conn. tragedy.
By bringing together this unprecedented and diverse group of leaders we plan to spark a movement that:
The simplest pledge is one that anyone can do. Learn the Five Signs of Emotional Suffering so you can recognize them in yourself or help a loved one who may be in emotional pain. In short, the Five Signs are personality change, agitation, withdrawal, decline in personal care, and hopelessness. Someone may exhibit one or more signs.
Moreover, a long and growing list of nonprofit organizations and private sector companies are making additional pledges to deliver educational tools and programs that will help change the national conversation about mental health.
If you need technical support or would like more information on the campaign, email changedirection@giveanhour.org. For media inquiries, please email media@giveanhour.org.
Please note, this email is not for emergency help. For immediate assistance, visit the helplines provided.
This is a collective impact initiative of Give an Hour. For information about financials and governance, click here.