Speak Up Be Vocal

The goal of the Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health is to encourage folks nationwide to speak up and support mental health. The hope is to empower those living with mental health conditions to speak up when talking to their practitioners, in their community and with their friends, families and co-workers to help advance the conversation about mental health.

Be Vocal is the result of a partnership between six mental health advocacy organizations:

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
• The Jed Foundation
• Mental Health America
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness
• National Council for Behavioral Health

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is also a partner.

Actor Chyler Leigh joined the initiative to help encourage others to be a mental health advocate for themselves and their community. Leigh used this opportunity to speak out about her struggles living with bipolar disorder. You can read her story here.

On the website, they give you tips on how to "be vocal." They suggest being vocal for yourself and your community. In addition to tips, the website also offers different ways to take action, mental health resources and ways to help others.

You can also watch the "Be Vocal" documentary and view their photography collection.

Visit Be Vocal on their website and on Instagram.

I am a huge fan and supporter of anything that encourages people to talk about mental health. The awareness helps to end the stigma and create a sense of community, which helps those afflicted with mental health conditions to not feel so alone.