JABSOM Library: Library Updates

Mental Health Awareness Month 2025

Holiday Closures: 

Monday, May 26, 2025 - Memorial Day

May is Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) — a time to reflect on the importance of mental well-being and to take meaningful action in supporting mental health in ourselves, our colleagues, and our communities.

Why Mental Health Matters

Mental health is essential for overall well-being at every stage of life. Regardless of age, background, or experience, prioritizing mental health strengthens individuals, families, and communities. In healthcare and academic environments, where stress and burnout can be common, supporting mental health is not just beneficial -- it’s critical.

Mental Health Matters at Every Stage of Life

Mental health is essential for overall well-being at every stage of life. Regardless of age, background, or experience, prioritizing mental health strengthens individuals, families, and communities. Throughout May, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) highlights key populations and topics through weekly themes:

• Week 1 (May 1-3): Supporting Older Adults’ Mental Health
  • Life changes in older adults can impact mental health; help is always available.
  • Mental health conditions in older adults may show as changes in interests or energy.
  • Open conversations encourage older adults to seek help and improve quality of life.
• Week 2 (May 4-10): Building Strong Foundations for Children's Mental Health
  • Supportive families, schools, and communities build lifelong well-being.
  • Teaching coping skills and recognizing early signs leads to better outcomes.
  • Physical activity and open conversations strengthen resilience.
• Week 3 (May 11-17): Hope and Support for Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED)
  • Millions live with SMI or SED — with treatment and support, recovery is possible.
  • Early diagnosis, personalized care, and strong community connections are key.
  • There is hope — many with SMI are living, working, and flourishing.
• Week 4 (May 18-24): The Connection Between Mental and Physical Health
  • Mental and physical health are deeply connected — caring for one supports the other.
  • Depression and anxiety increase chronic disease risk; integrated care improves outcomes.
  • Nutrition, activity, and sleep benefit both mind and body.
• Week 5 (May 25-31): The Power of Community and Connection in Mental Health
  • Strong relationships and supportive communities foster belonging and well-being.
  • Self-care, resilience, and social connection play vital roles in recovery.
  • Open conversations help break stigma and encourage seeking help.

Are there research resources available?

JABSOM Library offers a handful of databases you can explore for psychiatry and mental health topics.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers NIMH-funded research resources. You can find them HERE. NIMH also provides statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the United States population. The Statistics page can be found HERE.

• APA PsychInfo
  • Provides citations and abstracts of international journal articles in psychology and related disciplines. It covers over 1,300 journals, representing professional and scientific literature from over 50 countries. 1887-present.
• PubMed
  • Produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the MEDLINE database is widely recognized as the premier source for citations and abstracts of biomedical literature. University of Hawai'i at Mānoa provides two platforms for searching Medline, including MEDLINE through OVID.
• MEDLINE
  • Produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the MEDLINE database is widely recognized as the premier citation and abstract database for biomedical literature.

What can JABSOM do to help you?

Medical school can be one of the most challenging but fulfilling experiences during higher education. The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) strives to create a supportive and caring environment for you as students, faculty, and staff to help your personal growth, awareness, and care. OSA offers various wellness support, such as general counseling and services, workshops, and activities. You can check out some of their student wellness information, services, and support here.

If you need a study break, visit us at the library! We have various wellness activities available for you to "destress," including puzzles, coloring books, and rock painting. Because we updated the general library area with new carpet, we're implementing some updated food and drink guidelines to help preserve the space and keep our library clean:

• Only dry snacks and beverages in closed containers are allowed in the open library area and computer lab.
• No eating or drinking is allowed in the stacks.
• You can still enjoy full meals (like bentos or plate lunches) in the fishbowl, but all food and containers must be discarded in outside trash bins.