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AHRQ: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Date

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Academy is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) during the month of May. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in five U.S. adults experience a mental illness. MHAM allows individuals and groups alike to take action and engage in conversations about mental health. Many organizations, including the ones below, have published materials to mark the observance of MHAM.

  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) MHAM web page provides federal mental health resources and its MHAM Toolkit. Notably, SAMHSA links to its FindSupport.gov tool, the 988 Partner Toolkit, and National Prevention Week (May 11-17) resources.
  • Mental Health America’s Mental Health Month web page has a planning guide available in English and Spanish, an action guide, and marketing materials.
  • The National Alliance on Mental Illness’s (NAMI’s) MHAM web page highlights its theme: “In Every Story, There’s Strength.” Throughout May, NAMI will share lived experiences of mental illness alongside marketing materials available for download.
  • The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s May is MHAM web page highlights many events happening throughout May. It also features meaningful research on resilience, stories for mental health awareness, and marketing materials in English and Spanish.
  • The National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s MHAM 2025 web page highlights background information and resources about mental health, including its downloadable Four Ways Forward Toolkit.

The AHRQ Academy remains dedicated to responding to the recognized need for a national resource and coordinating center for those interested in behavioral health and primary care integration (also referred to as integrated behavioral health, more extensively defined in the Academy’s Lexicon). For a full overview of the Academy and its products, view the Academy for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care slide deck. The Academy’s website also includes a variety of resources and information on integrated behavioral health. Below are several Academy resources that not only highlight useful information on mental health for sharing during MHAM but also the wider integration of behavioral health into primary care:

  • Topic Briefs – Practical guidance for addressing emerging issues, such as how community engagement can support whole-person primary care and the role of behavioral-developmental health screening and response for children ages 0-5 in pediatric primary care.
  • Substance Use Tools & Resources Collection – A collection of items for addressing substance use (especially opioids) in primary care related to topics such as co-occurring behavioral health disorders, payments and reimbursements, and psychosocial supports.
  • Literature Collection – A database with more than 11,000 references for published and grey literature on integrated behavioral health related to topics such as financing and sustainability, opioids and substance use, and healthcare policy.
  • Events Calendar – A calendar of upcoming events related to integrated behavioral health, including federal webinars and major conferences.
  • News – A list of news items written by the Academy on integrated behavioral health related to topics such as policy updates, new research findings or resources, and federal announcements.