The fields of mental health and social change are at a critical juncture. Reports of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions continue to increase in the United States and around the world. At the same time, our society desperately needs to harness the full potential of social change and innovation to address this moment of technological, communal and environmental instability.
Although mental health and social change are often considered separately, there is strong evidence that integrating the two can have a lasting impact. At its core, mental health enables individuals and communities to overcome life’s challenges toward growth and a sense of contribution, enabling collective engagement in social change. On the other hand, leveraging spaces of social change to build positive mental health can reach far beyond the formal mental health system and increase accessibility in marginalized communities.
The good news is that many social entrepreneurs and innovators are paving the way to effectively embed and promote mental health into the social sector. The Catalyst 2030 Mental Health Collaboration, led by a global collective movement of social change makers and chaired by Chris Underhill, will explore how tackling mental health impacts society and the environment. There are countless stories about what amplified. In this series, we hear from leaders across collaborations who are integrating mental health into their work. Each article explores why and how to address mental health to support climate justice, gender equality, peacebuilding, and the workplace. In addition to examples and case studies, contributors provide tools and practical steps for social change leaders everywhere to harness the power of mental health to advance their missions.