Conversations in Your Community

Support the national dialogue by getting involved and building awareness of mental health problems in your community. 

Find a Community Conversation

Community conversations are taking place across the country, and give people a chance to learn more about mental health issues. People who participate in these conversations discuss issues related to the mental health of young people, and decide how they might take action to improve mental health in their families, schools, and communities. Find one in your area.

Help Start a Conversation in Your Community

Use the following tools to start a conversation about mental health in your own community.

Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health

The Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health is designed to be a resource to help those interested in holding a conversation about mental health. It is comprised of three parts described below, that will help communities and groups plan and facilitate a dialogue about mental health.

  • Information Brief (PDF - 3.30 MB) | En Español (PDF - 4.30 MB) - Provides data and other facts about the promotion of mental health, prevention of mental illness, and how to promote awareness, early identification, access to treatment, crisis response, and recovery supports.  The Information Brief helps educate and inform community conversation participants and facilitators about mental health issues.
  • Discussion Guide (PDF - 3.05 MB) | En Español (PDF - 2.79 MB) - Provides a resource to help guide participants and facilitators through a one-day community conversation.  The discussion guide offers a framework for holding a successful and productive conversation.  The discussion guide includes:
    • Discussion questions
    • Sample views about mental health
    • Process suggestions
    • Facilitator tips
    • Individual and community follow-up steps
  • Planning Guide (PDF - 3.52 MB) | En Español (PDF - 3.03 MB) - Provides tools to help people hold a one-day community conversation. Includes information for planning conversations, recruiting and training facilitators, recruiting conversation participants, and identifying steps participants may want to take in order to raise awareness about mental health and promote access to mental health services.
  • “Mental Health in my Community” Infographic (PDF - 10.2 MB) | En Español (PDF - 9.66 MB) - Read and share this helpful infographic.

Find an Organization with Mental Health Expertise in Your Community

These organizations can help you organize a community event, locate speakers with mental health expertise, offer information on mental health services, or provide peer and family supports. 

Continue the Conversation

Use the following social media tools and online resources to keep the conversations about mental health going in your community.

If you are a company or a non-profit organization that wants to partner with us in promoting mental health awareness, please send us a message on Facebook.

Learn More about Community Resources for Mental Health