Mental Health Awareness Month: County Participation Toolkit

America's counties are frontline providers of mental health programs and services, acting as the nation's safety net for residents in need, first responders, and operators of essential facilities like crisis lines, public hospitals and detention centers. Due to their extensive interactions with residents seeking care, counties are pivotal in local, state and national efforts to fortify the mental health system.

Facing a nationwide crisis, an intergovernmental solution is imperative. Counties stand prepared to collaborate across public, private, and non-profit sectors to address this growing crisis through targeted federal policies, cross-sector partnerships and the enforcement of mental health parity.

This May, the National Association of Counties (NACo) invites the nation's 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs to participate in Mental Health Awareness Month. By showcasing how county governments provide vital behavioral health services and resources and by advocating for key mental health reforms—including repealing harmful exclusionary Medicaid policies, bolstering local crisis response infrastructure, supporting the behavioral health workforce and ensuring mental health parity—we can effect significant change. 

To demonstrate support, counties can utilize this template to pass a resolution declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month in their jurisdiction. 

Key Themes

This May, we will focus on innovation and policy advancement in mental health, equipping counties with the tools to drive federal advocacy and implement transformative solutions. This toolkit includes sample letters, op-eds, talking points, and social media posts to support engagement.

Weeks 1 & 2: Innovation – Transforming Local Systems for Better Access and Care 

The first half of the month will highlight local innovations that are reshaping access to mental health services. Examples include:  

• Exploring how counties are expanding care through new service models, leveraging technology and building community-driven solutions  
• Examining efforts to strengthen the behavioral health workforce, including innovative recruitment, training and retention programs that ensure long-term sustainability  
• Spotlighting how local governments are leading the way in achieving true mental health parity, ensuring that individuals receive timely and appropriate care without systemic barriers

Weeks 3 & 4: Policy Advancement – Strengthening Federal and State Partnerships 

In the second half of the month, we will shift focus to policy advocacy that drives systemic change. This includes:  

• Emphasizing the role of Medicaid in improving availability and access to community-based care by reforming exclusionary policies and expanding eligibility for critical services.  
• Push for stronger federal partnerships to improve service coordination across behavioral health, housing and justice systems.  
• Advocate for direct and flexible federal investments in local mental health infrastructure, ensuring counties have the resources needed to strengthen crisis response, workforce pipelines and integrated care models. 

Demonstrate how counties are providing important mental health care services to all residents in your county through pictures and stories to encourage Congress to pass critical policy reforms. Most Senators and Representatives are on Twitter and monitor their Twitter feeds regularly. The easiest way to find your members of Congress is to utilize the search function on Twitter or by visiting your members’ website. In addition to reaching out to your members of Congress on Twitter, consider targeting House and Senate leadership.

Sample Social Media Posts

Use our sample social media posts and graphics below to join the conversation during Mental Health Awareness Month. Don’t forget to include both @NACoTweets and #CountyMentalHealth in your posts, to keep us in the loop! 

Social Media Graphics

Download shareable Mental Health Awareness Month graphics here.