May is Mental Health Awareness Month, yet the topic is still very rarely spoken about. There’s a stigma that surrounds mental illness that makes it uncomfortable to discuss, if not downright taboo. In order to fight this stigma, it’s imperative to speak about mental illness and do research to understand it better. Many organisations exist to try and combat this stigma while providing resources to educate the public better on these illnesses. While it’s preferable to support these organisations year-round, here are a few groups to support during Mental Health Awareness Month at a minimum.

National Alliance for Mental Illness

The National Alliance for Mental Illness, or NAMI, is the largest mental health organisation in the United States. Its goal is to promote education and awareness for mental illnesses through programs while providing advocacy and support for those who have mental health issues. If you live in the United States, there’s also a 24/7 crisis helpline to help prevent suicide and offer domestic violence and sexual assault survivors support.

Campaign Against Living Miserably

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is a United Kingdom charity group working to reduce suicide rates among men. According to the group, 125 people in the United Kingdom take their own lives; 75% of all UK suicides are male. Through their work, CALM runs a free and confidential helpline and online chat that’s available 24/7. They also provide support for those affected by suicide through the Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP). CALM aims to challenge male stereotypes and encourage men to seek help through art, music, sports, and comedy.

Beat

About 1.25 million people in the United Kingdom suffer from eating disorders, with many of them doing so in secret. Beat is a charity with the mission to end pain and suffering caused by these disorders. The group’s national helpline allows those affected by eating disorders to contact help either over the phone or online 365 days of the year, listening to those who call and support them as they head toward recovery. Beat also offers support for friends and family whose loved one has an eating disorder, giving them skills and advice to help their loved ones recover while looking after their own mental health. They further help by campaigning for more education among healthcare professionals, better funding for higher quality treatment, and more.