May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a time to reflect, speak out, and come together for a cause that touches every one of us. As the founder of The Gray Matters Collective, I’ve seen how life-changing it can be when communities unite to prioritize mental health and prevent suicide.
Here in the Quad Cities, we’re facing a heartbreaking reality: we lose an average of 53 lives to suicide every year. That’s 53 too many. Behind each number is a story, a family, a future lost. It’s a crisis that demands our collective action.
That’s where we step in.
What started as a campaign at Augustana College has grown into a grassroots movement with over 60 chapters across Illinois and Iowa. Our mission is simple but powerful: to empower everyday people – not just professionals – to become mental health advocates in their schools, workplaces, and communities.
Because the truth is, you don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. You just need a heart that cares.
We train students, educators, parents, and community members to recognize signs of mental health struggles, hold supportive conversations, and connect others to the help they need. Through public events, peer support groups, education campaigns, and community outreach, we’re creating a culture where mental health is taken seriously – and no one has to struggle alone.
This May, our message is clear: We are all in this together. Suicide prevention cannot be left to the professionals alone – it has to be a community effort. Because we all have mental health. We are all 5 in 5.
While we often hear the statistic that 1 in 5 people experience a mental illness in any given year, the “5 in 5” message reminds us that everyone has mental health – just like physical health – and it matters for all of us. Whether you’re struggling or supporting someone who is, you’re part of this conversation.
We’ve seen what’s possible when stigma gives way to empathy. We’ve watched young people become leaders, survivors become speakers, and communities once silent now standing loud and proud for mental health.
If you’ve ever wondered how to help someone who’s struggling, or felt like your story didn’t matter – this month is for you. You can find our upcoming events on social media (Facebook + Instagram), and you are always welcome to advocate with us.
Visit thegraymatterscollective.com or sign up for our newsletter: thegraymatterscollective.substack.com.
Because you matter. And the gray matters, too.
(Haley DeGreve is founder and executive director of The Gray Matters Collective. She can be reached at [email protected].)
