Mental Illness Awareness Week is underway across the United States. This year's observance centers on the theme "Building Community: Supporting Mental Well-Being Together."

The week is held each year during the first full week of October. Congress designated it in 1990, recognizing the work of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to raise public awareness. Advocates and community groups have used the occasion since then to host public education events, both large and small.

The observance has roots that go back further than the congressional designation. NAMI began marking the week in 1984 as a grassroots effort to educate the public and reduce stigma. The organization itself started in 1979 as a small gathering of families discussing mental health and has since grown into one of the country's leading advocacy voices on the issue.

A snapshot of need

NAMI's figures, drawn from SAMHSA, CDC, and NIMH data, indicate that about 1 in 20 adults experience a serious mental illness that substantially limits daily functioning.

New workplace data adds to the picture. In NAMI's third annual poll with Ipsos, conducted in January and February 2026 among 2,153 full-time employees at companies with 100 or more workers, only 54 percent said they believe their employer prioritizes their mental health. The poll also found that 61 percent of "sandwich generation" employees, who care for both aging relatives and children, reported burnout, compared with 49 percent of employees without caregiving responsibilities.

Related observances

The week falls within Mental Health Month, which runs through October. World Mental Health Day is Saturday, October 10.

Where to find support

NAMI operates a HelpLine for people seeking information and resources, and the organization's website lists local events and affiliates.