May is Mental Health Awareness Month - 2022

• Tue 5/3/22 (3PM EST) - Dr. Jeff Gardere, America’s Psychologist & Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying, discuss the importance of caring for your mental health.

• Tue 5/10/22 (3PM EST) - Stephanie Mandel, Board Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Certified Emotion Code and Body Code Practitioner and Emotional Freedom Technique Coach & Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying, discuss selfcare through nutrition.

• Thur 5/12/22 (3PM EST) - Dr. Scott A. Weiss, DPT, MS, ATC/L, CSCS, CEP, DMQ, & Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying, discuss selfcare through exercise.

• Tue - 5/17/22 (3PM EST) - Dr. Lou Himes, PsyD, LGBTQIA+ Transgender Person Queer expert and Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying.

• Thur - 5/19/22 (3PM EST) - Meditations

• Tue - 5/24/22 (3PM EST) - Dr. Jeff Gardere, America’s Psychologist & Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying, discuss how to care for your mental health all year long.

It is up to the caring adults in the lives of kids and teens to be on the lookout for bullying and for signs that the participants may be suffering from mental health issues. Caring adults must educate kids and teens that buying into the stigma of mental illness can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support, and living well. Kids and teens should - and can - live well. Don’t let stigma prevent getting help.

How You Can Participate in Mental Health Awareness Month

It is up to the caring adults in the lives of kids and teens to be on the lookout for bullying and for signs that the participants may be suffering from mental health issues. Caring adults must educate kids and teens that buying into the stigma of mental illness can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support, and living well. Kids and teens should - and can - live well. Don’t let stigma prevent getting help.

Fact: One in five adults in the United States experience a mental health condition in a given year.              
Fact: Half of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14.
Fact: Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.                

These facts are sobering. But here is another very important fact:

Mental health conditions are treatable.

Mental Health Awareness Month raises awareness about recognition, treatment and recovery, and why it can be far more successful. One of the largest hurdles to mental wellness is addressing the stigma surrounding mental health.       

Stigma is when someone, or even you yourself, views you in a negative way because you have a mental health condition. It feels shameful and those suffering from mental illness seek isolation, not help. Learning how to cope with stigma is important for all of us, particularly when mental illness is associated with bullying. Studies show correlations between bullying and mental health issues for both the bully and the victim of bullying. Bullies may act from a place of low self esteem, a history of abuse or trauma, or depression. Bullying victims experience fear, depression, shame, loneliness, guilt, anxiety, low self esteem and in the worst cases, suicidal thoughts.