Give an Hour Announces First Global Week-Long Effort Dedicated to Changing Culture of Mental Health

Give an Hour, a national non-profit organization that has been providing free mental health services and working to change the culture of mental health since 2005, announced a first-of-its-kind global effort, taking place June 9 to June 15, called A Week to Change Direction. This global public education initiative will be a dedicated week of action, advocacy and culture change around mental health. Participants will be encouraged to educate their communities on the Five Signs of Emotional Suffering, which are personality change, agitation, withdrawal, poor self-care, and hopelessness, and to take action in their communities to remove the barriers that prevent those in need from seeking and receiving care.

“Mental health disorders are increasing in every country around the world and are expected to cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030. While we are beginning to see a shift in perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors, there is much more that needs to be done to save lives and resources,” said Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., Founder, and President of Give an Hour. “We are honored to host the first-ever globally-coordinated week-long effort focused on changing the way we think about, talk about and address mental health, emotional well-being and mental illness.”

As part of A Week to Change Direction, participating organizations and individuals are empowered to become part of the solution by taking actions that raise awareness in their communities. So far, this initiative has attracted participation from high-profile organizations including Facebook, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and its Okay to Say campaign, IBM, Aetna, Florida State University and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“At VA, suicide prevention is a top priority, and we recognize that we cannot end Veteran suicide by ourselves,” said Dr. Keita Franklin, Executive Director for Suicide Prevention in VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. “During A Week to Change Direction and all year long, VA’s partnership with Give an Hour expands our ability to reach Veterans with lifesaving resources and support where they live, work and thrive.”

To help participants maximize their reach and impact, Give an Hour has provided recommended actions and a toolkit that can be accessed from www.changedirection.org. A Week to Change Direction has already become a global effort with projects registered in 18 countries including Australia, Burundi, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, India, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Turkey, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Uganda, and the United States.

A Week to Change Direction is part of a broader public health initiative called the Campaign to Change Direction, which was launched by Give an Hour in 2015. The effort began in the United States and is now being adopted in other countries, with 700 partners worldwide. The Campaign to Change Direction encourages everyone to know the Five Signs of Emotional Suffering. Those who see the signs of emotional suffering in themselves or someone they love are encouraged to reach out and seek – or offer – help.

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