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May 12 is Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day

I raised funds in to create Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day in 2020 during the pandemic. It became an unofficial day May 12, 2020. For the next two years, I spent my time advocating with local news, advocacy groups, national associations and the State of Wisconsin to proclaim this day as the official Day of Appreciation. As of May 12, 2022 - Tony Evers the Government in Wisconsin, proclaimed this day as an official Day of Appreciation for Mental Health Providers. It was re-proclaimed for May 12, 2023 and I will continue to do this until I can receive recognition across many states.

This is just the beginning!

You created a holiday?
Since when?

FAQs about Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day.

May 12th. All day.
Any individual who provides support or care for individuals working on, through or in recovery from a mental health condition or mental health symptoms. This can include but NOT limited to crisis workers, peer support specialists, school staff, therapists, psychiatrists, nurses, PAs, MAs, caregivers, support staff, administrative staff, law enforcement, advocates, volunteers, and so much more.
Supporting someone with mental health trials and stressors and symptoms? Takes a team. It takes a whole community. And I have worked alongside so many incredible team members from multiple areas from hospitals to direct staff working on the streets with high risk clients. They all deserve to be seen. And they are not identified as front line workers, yet they are working every day to remind people they matter. And I want them to know they matter, too.
Tony Evers signed the Proclamation for May 12 as Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day in 2022 and 2023, and I will continue to advocate every year moving forward to expand to other states and national recognition.
Me, Anne C. Totero. It still is one of my proudest endeavors alongside being an advocate for others, a therapist, and an aunt.
Yes. I have been asked by organizations to do interviews and with some planning, I am willing to do this ongoing. I want to shout it from the rooftops, if I could!
Say thank you. Writer a thank you letter. Confidential posts about how people have helped you. Sharing information and education from your own survival guide if you are in recovery. Sharing your art about mental health recovery. And if you’re still struggling as we know this is a journey, not an A-B? Know that you matter and keep fighting. We will fight alongside you. Because if there is anything I deeply believe: People Matter. People need people. We aren’t meant to do any of this life stuff alone.

May 12 is Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day - Created by Anne C. Totero

Why did I do it?

The pandemic affected all of us. I felt I myself was in a fog yet had to navigate quickly how to support first responders, families, teenagers, my family, and myself. I had to grieve with people and also felt a need to be strong for others in a time of adversity. I felt for my colleagues and I saw how they showed up everyday, on time, and left late. This included ALL Mental Health Providers: Everyone from peer support specialists, administrative staff, practitioners, caregivers, and more. I wanted to show them they were seen, too. Most of us it is second nature to care give and that is why I feel so honored to work alongside such compassionate people to help the world be a little bit of a better place everyday.

You matter, too.