Mental Health Awareness Month and Tardive Dyskinesia

By Kathryn Strobach

This May Disability Rights Florida is observing our nation’s 72nd Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s observation is especially important as we recognize how COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted individuals living with mental illness, as well as the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of millions of individuals worldwide.

Mental Health Awareness Month begins with a week of special awareness for Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), one of the most serious and stigmatizing side effects of antipsychotic medications used to treat mental illness.

TD causes uncontrollable muscle movements that can make it hard to perform daily tasks, such as eating, getting dressed, or writing. Sometimes people with TD become isolated because they are embarrassed about their appearance or their difficulties performing simple tasks. Many individuals who take antipsychotic medication may not be aware of the risk of developing TD, and the onset of symptoms can be unexpected or frightening. For these reasons, education and advocacy are essential to helping individuals who are prescribed antipsychotic medication and their supporters learn what they can to do prevent or manage this condition.

Disability Rights Florida has helped individuals with TD or at risk of developing TD by:

• Informing them of their right to treatment, including their rights regarding antipsychotic medication use.
• Advocating for appropriate treatment and supports for individuals with TD.
• Providing information and referral sources to individuals with TD and their loved ones.

If you would like to request service or information from Disability Rights Florida, please contact our Frontline Intake and Referral Service (FIRST) team Toll-Free at (800) 342-0823 / TDD (800) 346-4127, or you can complete an online intake.

If you are experiencing a crisis related to mental illness and require immediate assistance, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.

To learn more about TD and Mental Health Awareness Week, please visit the following websites:

1. Talk About TD – a website devoted to helping individuals with TD and their supporters better understand and manage TD.
2. Written information and videos on TD on the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance website.
3. Read personal accounts of living with TD and find other information on the National Alliance on Mental Illness website.
4. Written information and videos on TD on the Mental Health America website.
5. Proclamation on National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2021 from the White House Briefing Room.