Promoting mental well-being during World Mental Health Day

From Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH): CMS recognizes World Mental Health Day by raising awareness about mental and behavioral health, especially for minority and underserved communities. Since 1992, this observance has worked to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health by promoting education and resources.

From the CMS email addressing World Mental Health Day: Mental health—which includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being—can often affect physical health. For example, symptoms of depression can increase the risk for conditions like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Similarly, chronic conditions can also increase the risk for mental illness. In 2023, 22.8% of U.S. adults had experienced mental illness in the past year, and multiracial adults were more likely to have a mental illness or serious thoughts of suicide than adults of other racial or ethnic groups. American Indian or Alaska Native and multiracial Americans are also more likely to have used substances or had a substance use disorder in the past year. Mental health disparities also exist in between rural and urban communities, with current rural suicide rates almost double those in metropolitan areas.
Improving mental and behavioral health starts with ensuring equitable access to quality care for all. Through the Coverage to Care (C2C) initiative, particularly the Roadmap to Behavioral Health, we’re working to help individuals understand which mental health, substance use, and other behavioral health care services are available to them. Share the resources below this World Mental Health Day to encourage those you serve to prioritize their mental well-being. The link to the Roadmap to Behavioral Health is attached.