If you’re reading this, chances are good that issues surrounding mental health and mental illness are important to you. You may have faced significant mental health challenges yourself or experienced them as you helped a friend or loved one who has struggled with these issues. Or you may have even worked in the mental health field, providing care and treatment to others.
Whatever the reason, you care about people with mental illnesses and want to step up to do more to show your support for them. In an earlier post, I outlined several simple ways to show this type of support. You may have already tried some of these strategies.
Now you want to do more. Perhaps you have seen inspiring mental health advocates in action and have thought it would be satisfying to lend your voice and your skills to these worthy efforts.
But how can you get more involved in mental health advocacy? It’s easier than you may have thought. You don’t have to be a professional or an expert to make a contribution to help improve supports and services for people with mental illnesses. Everyone can make a difference.
Here are 9 ideas for how to get more involved in mental health advocacy. Some may fit your interests and talents better than others; one size definitely does not fit all. Let’s take a look.
1) Send in an op-ed, letter, or comment.
The next time you see an article in a newspaper or online source about mental health issues, write up your thoughts and send them in. Most online and print media will gladly accept comments or letters related to their articles. For many online sources, you can enter your comments directly and they will be posted immediately or after a short review period. You can also write a more formal “op-ed” (opinion editorial) column to express your views. If you really want to get into the op-ed game and try to get published in larger media, there are training resources like the Op-Ed Project, which teach you formatting and content strategies to increase the chances of getting your pieces accepted.
2) Write a blog post or article.
There are many great blogs and websites which discuss mental health issues and mental illnesses (including this one!). Offer to write a guest post or article on a mental health issue for an established site. You can often just share your own experiences related to mental illness. There may be guidelines to follow for length, content, and so on, but don’t hesitate to reach out and see if a particular site is accepting guest authors. Also, If you’re on the business network LinkedIn, there’s a free feature that permits you to publish an original post.
3) Get your social media groove on.
YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and more! If you are active on any of these social media platforms, you already have a built-in audience to talk about mental health issues. Also, this is a great place to meet other mental health advocates, as there are hundreds! Start by reposting informative articles on mental health issues, but then share your own views. You can now even do a live video on many sites at the touch of a button and say hello to your network. And don’t forget, it’s “social” media, so talk with others and get to know them.
4) Contact your legislators.
Get to know your state and Federal legislators and let them know how you feel about pending bills which could positively or adversely affect mental health services. Due to the distance involved, your contact with Federal legislators may be largely limited to sending emails. At the state level, it’s entirely possible to schedule a time to visit your state Capitol and meet with your legislator in person. It’s important for you to be a registered voter and to tell your legislator you are a constituent, which means you live in their district. More tips on effective legislative advocacy are here.
5) Support a political campaign.
If your legislators have been consistent supporters for pro-mental health legislation, consider helping them with their next re-election campaign by handing out brochures or yard signs. Conversely, you may choose to support a new candidate whose views on mental health issues are more favorable than the incumbent. In addition to volunteering your time, you can make monetary donations to a campaign. You can also contribute to political action committees (PACs) which focus on mental health and who donate to candidates with a proven track record of supporting mental health issues.
6) Speak in a public setting.
If you’re comfortable with this, consider speaking up in a public setting where mental health issues are the focus. There are a number of options, some informal and others more formal. You can start by making brief comments in a support group. As your skill and confidence grows, you might offer to give longer remarks about your own mental health issues or those your family has faced in a class, at a mental health event, or on a radio show or podcast. Training programs, such as NAMI’s “In Our Own Voice,” will take you through structured practice to learn how to share your story in a supportive manner in group settings. If you’re a mental health professional, volunteer to do a talk on mental health coping skills or some other area related to your expertise.
7) Raise money for a worthy cause.
There are many reputable non-profit organizations which support mental health-related causes. Make a donation to as many as you like, to the extent your charitable contribution budget allows. Even better, become a member of one or more organizations and volunteer to organize or help with a specific fund-raising event. Several groups will sponsor walks, rallies or other community events where you can help solicit donations from individuals or businesses.
8) Learn more about the issues.
As you get more involved in mental health advocacy, take some time to learn more about the current issues. Ongoing “hot button” advocacy issues concern access to mental health services, health insurance benefits, and inadequate funding for mental health programs. There are also still huge unresolved issues related to incarceration and homelessness of those with the most severe types of mental illness. Many mental health organizations offer meetings, classes, and webinars for you to learn more about these issues. Subscribe to newsletters and email updates from leading mental health advocacy groups. As you become better informed, you will be a more effective advocate.
9) Network.
The best mental health advocates take time to meet people and establish a broad network with other advocates, policy makers, mental health professionals, and individuals, families and caregivers who have first-hand experience with mental illness. There are a few simple keys to effective networking: show up, keep showing up, be genuine and approachable, and take the time to get to know people and their issues and needs. While social media is an effective tool for networking, it’s still hard to beat talking face-to-face over coffee to get to know someone.
These are just a few ideas to help you jump start your mental health advocacy efforts. As I’ve said several times before, advocacy requires two things: get informed and get involved! Take the leap into mental health advocacy. I think you’ll find it a very worthwhile and enjoyable endeavor.
Here’s a question: What steps can you take now to get more involved in mental health advocacy? Please leave a comment. Also, please subscribe to my blog and feel free to follow me on X (formerly Twitter), “like” my Facebook page, or connect on LinkedIn. Finally, if you enjoyed this article, please share it with a friend!