Mental Health

The NC Alliance of YMCAs is proud to announce its participation in Mental Health Awareness Month throughout the month of May. This month is a crucial opportunity to break down stigmas surrounding mental health, promote understanding and provide resources to those in need.

Mental Health Awareness Month

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the Y is encouraging community members to care for themselves and others.  Mental health is how we think, feel and act. At the Y, we recognize that we all have mental health, and mental health is an important part of our overall health and social-emotional well-being, as well as a core component of our identity. 

In response to the growing mental health challenges teenagers are facing, the NC Alliance of YMCAs is coordinating a statewide effort aimed at supporting teen mental health.

This month NC YMCAs are applying to the Alliance for funding through June 2026 to expand or launch teen programming with a consistent, intentional and repetitive focus on mental health. Data shows the need for this work is great.

This fall the YMCA of Greensboro launched 500 Fist Bumps—a public health initiative delivered through youth and recreational sports programs—at its Mary Perry Ragsdale Family YMCA; the Y plans to roll the initiative out association wide in 2024. 

World Mental Health Day was yesterday, October 10th. The goal was to raise awareness of mental health issues and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. 

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the YMCAs is encouraging community members to care for themselves and others.