By Sally Charney | Director of Marketing and Special Partnerships
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is a very active month for Give an Hour – a national non-profit that provides free and confidential mental health care to those who serve, our veterans and their families.
Since 2005, Give an Hour’s mission is to develop national networks of volunteer professionals capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society. Give an Hour has provided free and confidential mental health care to those who serve, our veterans, and their families – providing over 250,000 hours of free care valued at nearly $25M.
Through the generosity, compassion, and expertise of Give an Hour’s skilled volunteers, we are able to increase the likelihood that those in need receive the support and care they deserve. Our organization mobilizes a national network of mental health professionals who pledge to “give an hour” of their time each week to support these individuals.
“Once again, thank you so much for the work you and the organization do by providing mental health services and education for our military and Veteran community. We at Memorial VFW Post 3238 are grateful to Give an Hour and the Campaign to Change Direction for making a difference in the lives of many from our community who are struggling with mental health related concerns.”
VFW Post Commander
Mental health is not a veteran issue. One in five Americans has a mental health condition; and in 2011, more people died by suicide in the United States (39,518) than in motor vehicle crashes (32,367). We can all play a critical role in changing the culture of mental health so that all in need receive the care they deserve.
Give an Hour is also providing free care to at-risk teens, survivors of gun violence and victims of natural and man-made disasters.
In addition to direct counseling, Give an Hour's network of volunteer professionals are working to remove the barriers to mental health care by participating in and leading education, training, and outreach efforts in schools, communities, and on military bases. Give an Hour also consults to communities, government agencies and other non-profit organizations on the coordination of services and on the Change Direction public health initiative.
The Campaign to Change Direction seeks to remove the barriers to seeking mental health care with the goal to encourage all of us, both in the military community and outside populations, to pay attention to our emotional well-being and to get the help we deserve when needed.
“How many times have you heard someone say, ‘there had to be warning signs’, ‘who missed them because you know there were warning signs,’ etc. Well this @campaigntochangedirection is a much-needed tool in being part of the solution to educate your sphere of influence on how to #changementalhealth by getting to #KnowTheFiveSigns!”
Facebook Follower
GAH's Campaign to Change Direction has created a common language that allows us to recognize the Five Signs of Emotional Suffering in ourselves and others and encourages us to care for our mental well-being and the mental well- being of others.
As we honor, celebrate and appreciate our military this month, please consider a donation so that we can continue to provide free and confidential mental health services to them and those outside this population.
Looking for a Mother's Day gift? Give a gift that gives twice. Make a donation to us and send Mom a giftcard.
Thank you for your continued support.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
