More Good Days, Together: Mental Health, Disability & the Community That Carries Us

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month — the 77th annual observance, founded by Mental Health America (MHA) in 1949. This year's theme, "More Good Days, Together," challenges us to think not just about individual wellness, but about the systems, communities, and supports that make good days possible for everyone.

At Shared Horizons, we know that mental health and disability are inseparable. The individuals and families we serve often navigate co-occurring mental health conditions alongside physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. The stress of caregiving, the isolation of living with a disability, the anxiety of navigating complex benefit systems — these are real, and they take a toll. This month, we name that reality and commit to doing our part.

The Mental Health-Disability Intersection

Research consistently shows that people with disabilities experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions:

• Adults with disabilities are nearly 3 times more likely to experience serious psychological distress than adults without disabilities

• Autistic individuals have elevated rates of anxiety and depression — often undiagnosed or undertreated

• People with chronic pain conditions, mobility impairments, and progressive neurological conditions face mental health challenges directly linked to their disability experience

• Caregivers of people with disabilities face high rates of burnout, depression, and compassion fatigue

• Children with disabilities are at higher risk of bullying, social isolation, and school-related anxiety

Mental health support is not a luxury for the disability community — it is a necessity. And it belongs in every care plan, every trust distribution discussion, and every benefits planning conversation.

Mental Health Benefits and the Benefits System

For Social Security: Serious mental illness (SMI) is a qualifying condition for SSI and SSDI. The SSA's listings for mental disorders (12.00 series) cover a broad range of conditions including depressive, bipolar, anxiety, trauma, and psychotic disorders. Functional limitations — not diagnosis alone — are the key to eligibility.

For Medicaid and state mental health agencies: Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are essential access points. Medicaid covers mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services in every state, though access, adequacy, and quality vary dramatically.

For families and guardians: Trust funds can pay for mental health services that Medicaid does not cover — including therapy with out-of-network providers, psychiatric medication not on the formulary, wellness programs, peer support services, and mindfulness or stress reduction programs. These are all permissible supplemental expenditures from a Pooled Special Needs Trust.

For providers and support workers: Direct support professionals often notice mental health changes before anyone else. Clear reporting channels, trauma-informed care training, and access to clinical consultation are essential supports for frontline staff.

For employers and local government agencies: The ADA requires reasonable accommodations for employees with mental health disabilities. Flexible scheduling, remote work options, and reduced-stress workload modifications are all examples of accommodations that courts have found reasonable.

Crisis Resources for Our Community

If you or someone you love is in mental health crisis:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7)

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Shared Horizons does not provide mental health services directly — but we believe deeply that mental wellness is integral to a life of dignity, and we support our beneficiaries and families in accessing the services that make more good days possible.

More Good Days, Together — A Promise

This Mental Health Awareness Month, Shared Horizons joins Mental Health America in committing to "More Good Days, Together." We commit to seeing the whole person behind every trust sub-account. We commit to talking openly about mental health in our community. And we commit to using the full flexibility of our trust to support every dimension of our beneficiaries' wellbeing — including their minds.

Wear green, share your story, and check on someone today. Good days are built together.

Citations & Resources

1. Mental Health America — Mental Health Month 2026 Theme: mhanational.org

2. Lindner Center of Hope — Mental Health Awareness Month 2026: lindnercenterofhope.org

3. NAMI — National Alliance on Mental Illness: nami.org

4. SSA — Mental Disorder Listings (12.00 series): ssa.gov

5. 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org

6. SAMHSA National Helpline: samhsa.gov