From Sun. Oct. 3 through Sat. Oct. 9, San Bernardino County will celebrate Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Mental Illness Awareness Week was established in 1990 by the U.S. Congress in recognition of efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to educate and increase awareness about mental illness.

One in four U.S. adults will experience a mental illness each year. According to NAMI, one in 20 experience serious mental illness each year, but less than two-thirds get treatment – all the more reason why educating others and reducing stigma surrounding mental illness is important. This year’s theme, “Together for Mental Health,“ focuses on the importance of advocating for better care for people with serious mental illness.

Throughout the week, DBH will post Mental Illness Awareness Week educational resources to our social media platforms. You can also find other ways to get involved on the NAMI website.