Each year, the month of May serves as a powerful reminder that mental health is health. It’s a time when communities across the country come together to raise awareness, fight stigma, and advocate for better mental health support systems. For Mental Health Awareness Month 2025, the national theme is “Turn Awareness into Action.”
This year’s theme challenges us to move beyond passive recognition of mental health issues and to take meaningful, sustained steps toward wellness and change. It’s not enough to say that mental health matters—we must show it through how we care for ourselves, how we support others, and how we advocate for more accessible, equitable mental health care.
At NAMI Southwest Washington, we’re committed to turning awareness into action every day. Whether it’s through our free support groups, educational programs, school outreach, or public advocacy, we’re working hard to build a future where no one feels alone in their mental health journey. But we can’t do it without you.
Awareness Is Just the Beginning
The need for action is urgent. One in five adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness each year, and far too many go without the care they need due to stigma, systemic barriers, or lack of resources. Turning awareness into action means:
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Prioritizing self-care and mental well-being in everyday life
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Educating yourself and others about mental health conditions
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Checking in with loved ones who may be struggling
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Speaking out against stigma and discrimination
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Supporting organizations that offer free, life-saving services
And one of the most inspiring ways you can take action this May is by joining our community for NAMIWalks Southwest Washington 2025.
Take Action with Us at NAMIWalks!
We invite you to be part of something bigger. NAMIWalks is more than a walk—it’s a movement of hope and healing. It’s a way to show up, speak out, and demonstrate that mental health matters to all of us.
📅 Saturday, May 17, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM
📍 Marine Park, Vancouver, WA
Whether you walk, volunteer, donate, or simply show up in support—your presence makes a difference. Every step we take together raises awareness and funds that allow us to expand our reach and offer more free mental health programs to our community, including youth outreach, family education, and crisis support.
Together, let’s make 2025 the year we turn awareness into action.
