As we conclude Mental Health Awareness Month 2026, it is important to remember to prioritize self-care and recognize that our mental wellbeing matters. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed since 1949. Here at the Vashti Center for Children and Families and through the Resilient Communities of Southwest Georgia Coalition, we continue striving each year to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
By encouraging open conversations about mental health and educating the communities we serve about available resources, we are making a meaningful impact on lives and helping reduce the number of lives lost to suicide. Through the Resilient Communities of Southwest Georgia Coalition, we focus on evidence-based initiatives across the rural counties within our region that aim to:
- Promote trauma-focused trainings across different sectors.
- Advocate for change through a JEDI lens.
- Build a common language around trauma.
- Advance and develop the workforce.
- Promote and raise awareness for children’s mental health.
- Create a sustainable model for regional collaboration and action.
One of the trainings our coalition offers throughout our nine-county service area is Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR). QPR teaches participants how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and equips them with the skills to question, persuade, and refer someone to appropriate and professional help. This training helps shed light on suicide prevention, while also helping participants feel more comfortable asking someone in crisis the difficult but necessary suicide question.
As we facilitate QPR trainings across the counties we serve, we also gather county-specific data from https://988ga.org/data to include in our trainings in order to help participants better understand the impact of suicide crises within their own communities. Presenting local data helps make these conversations more personal and reinforces the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention efforts close to home.
The Vashti Center for Children and Families recognizes the importance of Mental Health Awareness Month each year. Our mission at Vashti is: With God as our cornerstone, we foster healing, hope, and transformation to empower and promote resiliency in children, families, and communities in Georgia. Our vision is: To build healthy families and create resilient communities for future generations.
Through our mission and vision, we support children, youth, and their families as they navigate a variety of mental health and behavioral health challenges. We continually remind them that there is always hope and that resilience is possible, regardless of the circumstances they may face.
Why does Mental Health Awareness Month matter? According to Revival Research Institute, LLC, mental health concerns continue to rise worldwide. Increased workplace stress, social isolation, economic uncertainty, and digital burnout all contribute to growing emotional and psychological challenges, emphasizing the need to prioritize mental wellness.
“Mental health conditions can affect concentration, sleep, relationships, productivity, and overall quality of life. Without proper support, untreated mental health disorders may lead to long-term emotional and physical complications” (Revival Research Institute, LLC, 2026).
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month 2026, we must recognize the importance of identifying symptoms early and seeking professional support when needed. We must also work together to create safe, supportive environments where individuals feel comfortable discussing their mental health openly and honestly. By doing so, we can continue normalizing conversations surrounding mental wellbeing.
Another important resource we highlight during Mental Health Awareness Month is 988. According to 988lifeline.org, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential support to individuals experiencing suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories.
The 988 Lifeline consists of a national network of more than 200 local crisis centers that combine local care and resources with national standards and best practices. Since its launch in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline has answered more than 13 million calls, texts, and chats from individuals seeking support throughout the United States and its territories.
The 988 Lifeline reminds us that it is okay to not be okay and that help is always available — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are never alone. Please do not hesitate to reach out to 988 if you or someone you know is struggling.
As I conclude, I would like to share a statement from Mental Health America reflecting on this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month theme: More Good Days, Together.
“This year’s theme — More Good Days, Together — encourages us all to reflect on what a ‘good’ day looks like, both for ourselves and for our communities. Together, we can use that insight to connect people to the right support at the right time and shape advocacy, education, and community engagement to make more good days possible for all” (Mental Health America, 2026).
As Revival Research Institute, LLC reminds us, our mental wellbeing deserves the same care and attention as our physical health. I encourage everyone to continue having open and honest conversations about mental health as we work together to reduce stigma, prevent suicide, and expand access to mental health education and treatment resources.
Mental Health Awareness Month is recognized each May, but mental health is something we should prioritize every day of the year. Together, we can continue making a difference and creating more good days for everyone.