A campaign that supports and wants to protect your state of mind has been around since 1949. May is Mental Health Awareness month nationwide. May 7 was dedicated to children based on this campaign. Each year, a theme is chosen and this year it is B4STAGE4.

“At Mental Health America, we’re proud of being the organization that started this tradition. And we’re just as proud that it has been embraced so universally,” Director of Public Education for Mental Health America Danielle Fritze said via email.

Mental Health America is an organization that tries to raise awareness about mental issues. There are different stages to mental health and this campaign is a way to raise awareness before someone’s mental health reaches stage four. Stage four is the point at which someone could be a danger to themselves or someone else.

“They wait until after a crisis … before they act. This is wrong. We don’t do this for cancer, heart disease or diabetes. We should not do this for mental health concerns either,” Fritze said.

Mental health is something that should be taken seriously. Your environment, lifestyle and genes can affect your mental state.

Mental health should matter to everyone, especially adolescents. Young people are physically, emotionally and mentally going through many changes. Blossoming people face so many complications when it comes to their mental state. National Center for Children in Poverty studies show that suicide is the third leading cause of death in adolescents/young adults and that approximately 20 percent of adolescents have a diagnosable mental health disorder.

Giving support to this campaign is not just backing the psychological stability of others; it’s supporting yours as well.

Signs that indicate one might need professional help:

• Decline in school/work performance
• Constant worry/anxiety, depression, sadness or irritability
• Hyperactivity or fidgeting
• Frequent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums or nightmares

Basics for good mental health:

• Unconditional love from family/loved ones
• Self-confidence and high self-esteem
• Opportunity to socialize with others
• Encouragement
• Safe and secure surroundings