May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Marla Galvan, LICSW, LCSW-C, Senior Practice Associate, Clinical Social Work
May 2026
Founded by Mental Health America in 1949, May is Mental Health Awareness Month! NASW participates in this important initiative each year to acknowledge those affected by mental illness and the role clinical social workers play as mental health providers.
Clinical Social Workers (CSWs) represent one of the largest groups of mental health care providers in the United States. There are over 200,000 CSWs who are licensed to assess the needs of individuals, couples, families, or groups, and diagnose and treat mental health conditions. CSWs work in an array of settings across the country, including private practice, hospitals, schools, community mental health agencies, child welfare agencies, primary healthcare centers, aging and rehabilitation services, and hospice care facilities. With nearly 1 in 5 adults experiencing mental illness each year, CSWs play a vital role in providing critical mental health services (Mental Health America, 2025). By leading with empathy and respect for individual life experiences, CSWs empower clients to develop the skills necessary to navigate life’s challenges and provide resources and information to support long-term well-being.
View the information below to learn how NASW is advocating for CSWs on the front lines of mental health care and access resources that support mental health practice.
Advocating for Mental Health
NASW is advocating for an increase in Medicare reimbursement and for making the pandemic-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanent. With CSWs authorized as Medicare Part B mental health providers, these efforts can improve the ability of Medicare beneficiaries to access critical mental health care. Visit the NASW Action Center and contact your members of Congress to urge them to co-sponsor the legislation below!
Resources and Information
NASW invites social workers to view the resources offered across its many digital platforms to support their clinical practice:
- Watch NASW CEO Dr. Estreet talk about the nation’s shortage of mental health providers, and the role social workers play in mental health prevention and support.
- Visit NASW’s Social Work Online CE Institute to access free and discounted continuing education credits focused on mental health issues and the treatment of various mental health disorders.
- Join “An Hour with Private Practice: Questions & Answers,” a monthly webinar for NASW members that focuses on specific private practice topics and provides clinical social work updates that impact mental health service delivery.
- Listen to the Social Work Talks podcast, with episodes covering a range of mental health topics affecting individuals across all ages and populations.
- View the Clinical Social Work section of the NASW website to access practice tools and information to support services being performed in private practice, hospitals, community mental health, primary care, and agency settings.
- Read the NASW Practice Standard for Clinical Social workers, a comprehensive guide to help CSWs perform quality, ethical, and professional services and practice.
- Contact the clinical practice email address, clincal.pracitce@socialworkers.org, developed to support NASW members seeking assistance with clinical social work matters.
National Mental Health Awareness Month Campaigns
Visit these National Mental Health Awareness Month campaign websites to access resources, social media content, and planning guides. Download and share these tools to spread awareness about the importance of mental health.