30th Annual National Recovery Month, September 2019

Every September, SAMHSA sponsors Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover. The annual theme is Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger.

Suicide Prevention Week

Although there is no single cause of suicide, one of the risks for suicide is social isolation, and there’s scientific evidence for reducing suicide risk by making sure we connect with one another. We can all play a role through the power of connection by having real conversations about mental health with people in everyday moments – whether it’s with those closest to us, or the coffee barista, parking lot attendant, or the grocery store clerk.

Why Red?

Red is the national color for substance abuse awareness.

Light & Unite Red is a community-wide prevention committee led by the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division (BHD). In 2018, nearly 50 community organizations, surrounding health departments, high schools, libraries and government entities are working together to shine a spotlight on the dangers of substance use and to unite our community to engage in prevention, encourage treatment and support recovery throughout the year.

Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

Founded and sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (now Facing Addiction with NCADD), Alcohol Awareness Month was established in 1987 to help reduce the stigma so often associated with alcohol addiction by encouraging communities to reach out to the American public each April with information about alcohol, alcohol addiction, and recovery. Alcohol addiction is a chronic, progressive disease, genetically predisposed and fatal if untreated. However, people can and do recover. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 20 million individuals and family members are living lives in recovery from alcohol use!

Online

Throughout May, BHD will share a #4Mind4Body challenge on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages encouraging you to make small changes that will make a big impact on your overall wellness. We encourage you to share your progress online using #4Mind4Body.

In Person

Several of our community partners will host free community events to promote Fitness #4Mind4Body. We encourage you to participate wherever you are able and share these with your networks.