New Speak Up™ campaign focuses on patients’ mental health
A new patient safety campaign from The Joint Commission — Speak Up™ For Your Mental Health — is designed to educate patients on how to advocate for themselves and their mental health.
Mental health is just as important as someone’s physical health. Depression and other mental health issues are common, and like physical illnesses they need to be treated. Mental health issues also can affect a person’s thinking, feelings, mood, how they relate to others, and even how they function throughout the day. However, depression is a serious condition — and it is helpful to know the signs and symptoms.
The educational resources for this new Speak Up campaign include:
- An infographic poster/flyer in three sizes (8.5x11, 11x17 and 24x36).
- An animated video to incorporate in healthcare facilities.
- A distribution guide with recommendations on how healthcare organizations can use and provide the materials for patients and their families, caregivers, and advocates.
The infographic and video are available in both English and Spanish.
Launched in 2002, the award-winning Speak Up™ program has been used in more than 70 countries. It encourages patients to be their own advocates and to:
- Speak up
- Pay attention
- Educate yourself
- Advocates (family members and friends) can help
- Know about your new medicine
- Use a quality health care organization
- Participate in all decisions about your care
For updates on new Speak Up™ campaigns as they become available, sign up for email alerts or subscribe to Joint Commission Online. (Contact: Caron Wong, )