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Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month, observed every May, aims to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and promote understanding and support for those affected.

Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month, observed every May, aims to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and promote understanding and support for those affected.

Mental health telehealth services are available to PWCS students at no cost to families through Hazel Health, a well-established telehealth provider. Learn more.

May is nationally recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) proudly joins schools and communities across the country in emphasizing the importance of mental wellness for students, staff, and families. Mental health is essential to overall health, learning, and building meaningful connections, as it is truly the heart of well-being.

When individuals are supported emotionally and psychologically, they are better prepared to engage, grow, and succeed both academically and personally. By prioritizing mental well‑being, PWCS reinforces its commitment to nurturing safe, supportive, and inclusive school environments where every student and staff member can thrive.

Show your support by wearing GREEN on May 13.

The Mental Health Awareness Month activity calendar offers 31 days of ideas to help support your well-being.

Fast Facts

  • 1 in 5
    U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
  • 1 in 7
    U.S. youth aged 6–17 experiences a mental health disorder each year.
  • 50%
    of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–14.
  • People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and obesity compared to the general population.
  • High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers.
  • Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional, or behavioral concerns are 2x more likely to repeat a grade.

Source: Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and other select sources. Find citations on the National Alliance on Mental Health website.

Where to Get Help

Where to Get Help

  • 988 - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Dial or text 988 or visit the 988 webpage if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, and get connected to a trained crisis counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Crisis counselors listen empathetically and without judgment. Your crisis counselor will work to ensure that you feel safe and help identify options and information about mental health services in your area.
  • Prince William County Crisis Intervention Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know is at risk of harm or in a mental health crisis but is not in immediate danger, call 703-527-4077 or text CONNECT to 85511. If there is immediate danger, go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 911.
  • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) - Trained expert advocates are available 24/7 to provide confidential support to anyone experiencing domestic violence or seeking resources and information. Help is available in Spanish and other languages.
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline – Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) - Connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area that offers access to a range of free services. Crisis chat support is available.
  • Tip Line – Information about drugs, weapons, or other factors that may be harmful to the school environment should be reported via the Tip Line or through the "Say Something" Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS). SS-ARS is designed specifically for students in grades 6-12 and staff to report any serious or potentially violent concerns of unsafe behavior or threats of harm to self or others. "Tipsters" can send reports on anything from school threats they've seen or overheard to personal crises, including sexual harassment, self-harm, and depression.
    • Submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-844-5-SAYNOW or visiting www.SaySomething.net
    • Call 911 in cases of immediate emergency
  • Hazel Health – Mental health telehealth services are available to PWCS students at no cost to families through Hazel Health, a well-established telehealth provider.
  • Reach out to your health insurance, primary care doctor, or state/county mental health authority for more resources.
  • Talk with your employer about their Employee Assistance Program (EAP). These programs typically extend coverage to your immediate family members, including children.
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Prince William Chapter, offers free support groups.
    • NAMI Family Support Groups - NAMI Family Support Groups are free, confidential, and safe groups of families helping other families who live with mental health challenges by utilizing their collective lived experiences and learned group wisdom.
    • NAMI Connection - NAMI Connection is a weekly recovery support group for people living with mental illness in which people learn from each other’s experiences, share coping strategies, and offer each other encouragement and understanding.