Voices for Mental Health Today

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is estimated that one in five adults is living with a mental illness. Of the three groups of adults with mental illness, 18-25, 26-49, and 50+, 18-25 had the highest prevalence in 2022 at 36.2%. Data provided by the World Health Organization states that more than 700,000 people die due to suicide every year with it being the fourth leading cause of death in 15–29-year-olds. The Mental Health Collaborative organization is working to bring awareness for mental health by providing support for individuals and communities. By doing so, they strive to reduce the stigma around mental health and seeking help.

As a group of students seeing firsthand how mental health affects the world around us, we are fundraising to improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma and provide education and resources to individuals and communities by donating funds raised to Mental Health Collaborative (MHC). Mental health is often overlooked, which prevents many from seeking the help they may need. Specifically, more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment (Evans-Lacko et.al., 2018). Through research and formal learning, we have learned just how important mental health education is, not only for those who are struggling with mental health challenges but also for those in the community around them. Each of us having witnessed firsthand in our personal lives how the lack of resources has prevented people we love from seeking the help they need, we are encouraged about raising funds to reduce the risk others may find themselves in by not seeking help. Additionally, supporting an organization that is proactive in educating so many communities about mental health literacy is very important not only for our local community, but multiple communities across the country.

How Mental Health Collaborative is making a difference:

In order to build resilient communities, the Mental Health Collaborative strives to educate, collaborate and bring awareness to mental health literacy. MHC does this by providing programs and services, engaging in community building activities and advocacy support for three main categories, schools, communities, and organizations.

Programs:

Awareness and advocacy:

Community Building:

How you can get involved beyond donating:

Sources:

Evans-Lacko, S., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Benjet, C., Bruffaerts, R., … Thornicroft, G. (2018).

Socio-economic variations in the mental health treatment gap for people with anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. Psychological Medicine, 48(9), 1560–1571. doi:10.1017/S0033291717003336

Goldberg, D. S. (2017). INTRODUCTION: On Stigma & Health. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 45(4), 475+. https://link-gale-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/apps/doc/A528197839/HRCA?u=txshracd2679&sid=summon&xid=0457ee13

Link, B., & Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2016). Stigma as an Unrecognized Determinant of Population Health: Research and Policy Implications. Journal of Health Politics, Policy & Law, 41(4), 653–673. https://doi-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/10.1215/03616878-3620869

National Center for Health Statistics. Percentage of teens aged 12-17 years with symptoms of anxiety during the past 2 weeks, United States, July 2021-December 2023. National Health Interview Survey— Teen. Generated interactively: Feb 15 2025 from https://wwwndev.cdc.gov/NHISDataQueryTool/NHIS_TEEN/index.html

World Health Organization. (2023, March 31). Depressive disorder (depression). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression