1 in 4 Americans-nearly 60 million people-live with common and treatable mental health disorders. Check out these 5 easy ways you can volunteer during mental health month.

1. Help with teen screening. Become a trained community volunteer and administer questionnaires to teens. Teen Screen was developed by researchers and health professionals at and has been used in school districts around the country. Mental health screening can identify teens with mental, emotional or behavioral problems early, before they develop into full-blown disorders. Screening in­creases the likelihood that struggling teens get the help they need and minimizes the impact of mental disorders on teens’ lives.
2. Support Someone Close to You. If you have a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness, you are probably wondering what you can do to help.  As in any relationship, emotional and practical support is always needed. Occasionally, family and friends participate in someone’s recovery by offering transportation, financial and housing assistance. Whatever form it takes, your support, compassion and respect matter.
3. Fight the Stigma: Become A StigmaBuster! The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) StigmaBusters is a network of dedicated advocates across the country and around the world who seek to fight inaccurate and hurtful representations of mental illness. Whether these images are found in TV, film, print, or other media, StigmaBusters speak out and challenge stereotypes. They seek to educate society about the reality of mental illness and the courageous struggles faced by consumers and families every day. StigmaBusters’ goal is to break down the barriers of ignorance, prejudice, or unfair discrimination by promoting education, understanding, and respect.  Numbers do count, so let your voice be heard!
4.   Share your story. We all know how empowering human connections are to those seeking wellness and recovery. By speaking out about your experiences, you help give a voice to millions of American adults who have a mental health disorder. Your story will help bust the stigma that keeps people from getting care and perpetuates misunderstanding about those affected by mental health disorders.Tell your story and give a real voice to a great cause. Your story can change a life, and even save one.
5. Research! Although mental illness affects 1 in 4 Americans, mental illness remains a stigmatized issue that many people choose to ignore; however, with research and understanding, we can all remove the stigma and encourage people to seek support and treatment without feeling ashamed. So please take the time out to research mental illness, so that if you notice someone with symptoms of mental illness, you can potentially encourage them to seek help.