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Celebrate National Recovery Month in September

Support.

It’s a key ingredient in the recovery process. Without it, recovery can be a lonely, uphill battle.

September is National Recovery Month and this year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Visible, Vocal, Valuable!” The theme looks at the “value of peer support through education, mentoring and helping each other.”

This year’s theme invites “individuals in recovery and their support systems to be catalysts and active change agents in communities, and in civic and advocacy engagements. It encourages individuals to start conversations about the prevention, treatment, and recovery of behavioral health conditions at earlier stages of life.”

 

Did you know:

  • More than 7 million adults reported having co-occurring disorders, which means in the past year they’ve had any mental illness AND a substance use disorder. This co-occurrence was highest among the ages of 18 to 25.
  • By 2020, mental and substance use disorders will surpass all physical diseases as a major cause of disability worldwide.
  • The first behavioral health symptoms typically come before a mental and/or substance use disorder by two to four years, which offers a window of opportunity to intervene early and often.
  • Several studies have concluded that helping others can improve one’s own prognosis for recovery. By sharing their experiences, peers bring hope to people in recovery, and promote a sense of belonging within the community.

See more fast facts here.

National Recovery seeks to “educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.”

Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate health improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. The observance reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.

Get Involved with National Recovery Month

  • Rally for Recovery, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, Target Field in Minneapolis
  • Spirituality Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, Augsburg College in Minneapolis
  • 8th Annual Operation Recovery Event, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17, Minneapolis Community and Technical College in Minneapolis
  • Walk for Recovery, Saturday, Sept. 19, Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis

 

Source: recoverymonth.gov/