Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness month has been observed in May. This year, companies across the country launched initiatives throughout the month, including programs designed to help their own employees, the community-at-large and specific demographics. Here are some of the ways businesses have honored Mental Health Awareness Month in 2023:

L.L. Bean

The outdoor retailer L.L. Bean went “off the grid” during this past May, pausing all its social media channels to encourage individuals to get outside. On May 1, visitors to its social media profiles found resources and tips to encourage its audience to follow suit and head to the great outdoors to benefit their mental health. 

The retailer also partnered with social fitness app Stava to invite users to log their time spent in the open air as part of the L.L. Bean Feel-Good Challenge, with a goal of spending a combined 500,000 hours outside—a goal it reached even before month’s end. Having met the goal, L.L. Bean donated $50,000 to Mental Health America, an organization dedicated to addressing mental health needs. 

Planet Fitness

As part of its National Mental Health Awareness initiatives, Planet Fitness, one of the largest franchisor of fitness centers, announced its High School Summer Pass program, which invites high schoolers, ages 14-19 to work out for free in any of its locations across the U.S. and Canada. The program began on May 15 and continues through August 31. Of the teens who sign up for the program, Planet Fitness will award 10 with $10,000 individual academic scholarships via a TikTok video submission contest. And the top 10 schools with participating students will also receive $10,000 each to fund projects such as athletic equipment purchases, fitness classes or mental health initiatives. 

This is the third year for the program, which is designed to encourage students to stay active during the summer months. The company notes that the World Health Organization recommends teens participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical daily activity for their physical and mental health. 

Weyerhaeuser Company

Weyerhaeuser Company—one of the largest private owners of timberlands in the world—partnered with the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance for its National Mental Health Awareness initiative. The two organizations launched the Fighting Fires Together campaign which supports wildland firefighters and the unique mental health and stress-related issues they experience. Through an online resource hub, first responders can receive mental health tips, educational articles and contacts for support groups and counselors. 

Royal Canin North America

Royal Canin North America, a leader in cat and dog nutrition, announced in May its creation of a website with a mental health wellness “toolkit” targeted toward veterinarians. Royal Canin is a subsidiary of Mars and launched its initiative in conjunction with Mars Veterinary Health. 

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, female veterinarians are 3.5 times and male veterinarians are 2.1 times as likely as the general population to die from suicide. Royal Canin also sponsors Not One More Vet, an organization dedicated to addressing mental health issues in the veterinary services profession.