Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month in April has given way to another important time for us at the Amputee Coalition. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, honoring another cause with meaning to our community.
The White House issued a proclamation to mark the start of the month.
“During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor the absolute courage of the tens of millions of Americans living with mental health conditions, and we celebrate the loved ones and mental health professionals who are there for them every day,” the proclamation began. “Treatment works, and there is no shame in seeking it.”
According to the text, 40 percent of adults say they feel depression or anxiety and 40 percent of teens report feeling hopelessness or persistent sadness.
National rates of drug overdoses and suicide are also high.
“We all have a role to play in ending the stigma around mental health issues,” the proclamation said. “It starts by showing compassion so everyone feels free to ask for help.”
The National Limb Loss Resource Center® provides a fact sheet on emotional recovery to help the 4 million people in the U.S. who have limb loss and limb difference with their mental well-being. We recognize that the loss of a limb is a life-changing experience and that all amputees respond to it in their individual way.
The fact sheet outlines the emotional stages that many people go through on their way to recovery, and it defines many of the emotional concerns they encounter.
It also contains descriptions of the programs and initiatives that the Amputee Coalition provides for support and lists other ways for you to find support in your community.