Announcing the launch of “Make a Difference With Mental Health Activism: No activism degree required—use your unique skills to change the world”

Everyone is touched by mental health issues. Just read the statistics:

• Youth mental health is worsening, as 7% of youth in the U.S. have severe major depression, compared to 9.2% in 2019.
• Suicidal ideation among adults is increasing. The percentage of adults in the U.S. who are experiencing serious thoughts of suicide increased by 0.15% or 460,000.
• The number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression has skyrocketed. The COVID-19 pandemic created a flood of diagnoses and requests for treatment: anxiety is up 93% and depression is up 62%.

Make a Difference offers you:

• Profiles of a wide variety of creative mental health activists, from podcasters and jewelry makers to authors and quilters — the unexpected activists
• Techniques to identify the unique gifts you bring to your activism
• Guidance to craft a unique activism opportunity perfectly suited to you
• Methods to monitor your success and long-term effectiveness
• Ways to stay motivated and avoid burnout

The Activists in Action profiles spotlight individuals who transformed their daily challenges with mental illness and the grief caused by its consequence into life-changing activism. One makes a podcast taking a light and often humorous approach to talking about mental illness; another creates one-of-a-kind jewelry designed for those struggling with their experiences; a quilter makes memorial quilts for those who have died by suicide, and a college student-turned-social-media-influencer designed mental health materials for college campuses across the country for students who are struggling.

Make A Difference with Mental Health Activism: No activism degree required—use your unique skills to change the world by psychologist Terri Lyon and mental health activist Trish Lockard is the only resource of its kind to guide readers along a unique 5-step Activism Path that matches skills, interests, and experience to create an ideal activism opportunity that will result in improved mental health services, the fight against stigma, and the courage to share their stories. Make A Difference with Mental Health Activism is a follow-up to Dr. Lyon’s 2018 researched-based activism book What’s On Your Sign?

“What is truly unique about Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism is that the material is equally applicable regardless of your age, gender, or level of activism experience,” Lyon says. Co-author Lockard adds, “I work with families impacted by mental illness and the frustration with our mental health care system is pervasive. Grassroots activism is a tangible avenue toward change.