twitter300The numbers are alarming.

In a given year, an estimated 26.2 percent of U.S. adults suffer from a mental disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In addition, “approximately 40 million Americans age 12 and over meet the medical criteria for addiction involving just nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.” That’s according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse’s 2012 Annual Report.

When added together, these numbers are proof of a healthcare epidemic in our country. And although help is available, many people go untreated and are stricken by the stigma that is attached to mental health and substance abuse problems.

That stigma is part of the focus of National Recovery Month, an effort to raise awareness regarding these afflictions each September since 1989. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the month is designed to educate “Americans on the fact that addiction treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.”

In observance of this month, Norix Furniture would like to highlight 10 Twitter accounts that provide information, raise awareness, and offer hope to those suffering from addiction and mental illness. Our list includes some very well known accounts, as well as some you might have missed.

We know there are many more accounts out there in the Twittersphere that are tweeting to those in need of help. If you can recommend any accounts, please share them in the comment section at the bottom of this page.


@800273TALK – The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers encouraging messages, quotes, testimonials and the many reasons to call its number.

 

@Active_Minds – Active Minds supports college students by providing them with information on how to cope with mental health issues on campus.

 

@afspnational – The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention raises awareness regarding suicide prevention events. It also tweets out suicide awareness news and often speaks directly to those who might be in need of help.

 

@APAHealthyMinds – The American Psychiatric Association account primarily serves as an aggregate by retweeting reputable doctors, organizations and news sources that provide mental health information.

 

@HealthyPlace – Home to the Stand Up for Mental Health campaign, this account is not shy about retweeting and sending messages “@” others while tapping into a plethora of useful hashtags.

 

@JodiAman – We recommend Jodi Lobozzo Aman — a Twitter force who posts, retweets, talks to her followers and creates a true social conversation.

 

@NAMICommunicate – The official Twitter account for The National Alliance on Mental Illness sends out a (very) steady stream of news, research and tips on a variety of mental health issues.

 

@NIMHgov – The National Institute of Mental Health has a Twitter following of nearly 400,000 — and for good reason. The Twitter account provides webinars, live chats, the latest research, practical mental health tips and the latest mental health news.

 

@PsychCentral – A true breath of fresh air, PsychCentral’s Twitter feed is filled with news regarding “Psychology and mental health information and support,” along with many words of encouragement for those suffering.

 

@RecoveryMonth – Sponsored by SAMHSA, the Recovery Month’s Twitter account “is a platform to celebrate people in all forms of recovery and those who serve them.” Follow them for videos, National Recovery Month event information, and great resources about mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Dustin Coleman is a brand journalist for Norix Furniture and a contributor to the Safe Environments blog.