Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness month. A study in 2021 concluded that as many as 22.8% of US adults experience mental illness, representing 1 in 5 adults. In 2016 as many as 16.5% of US youth (age 6-17) experienced a mental health disorder as well. Of those 22.8% of adults, 47.2% of them receive treatment in 2021. As many as 50.6% of teens received treatment in 2016.

Mental illness can make it challenging to live everyday life. Beyond the individual, these challenges can have a ripple effect through families, communities, and the world. For example, people with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. As many as 21% of the homeless population have a serious mental health condition. As well as at least 8.4 million people in the US provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue. However, we can’t test for mental illness in the ways we can test blood sugar levels for diabetes.

Here are some warning signs of mental illness to look out for:

• Feeling sad or withdrawn for more than 2 weeks
• Severe, out of control, or risk-taking behavior that causes harm to self or others
• Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or difficulty breathing
• Significant weight loss or gain
• Seeing, hearing, or believing things that aren’t real*
• Excessive use of alcohol or drugs
• Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality, or sleeping habits
• Extreme difficulty concentrating or staying still
• Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
• Thoughts of harming yourself or others

There are many tools that can improve the experience on the road to wellness in mental health treatment: medication, counseling (therapy), social support, and education. With the help of a trusted professional, you can develop a well-rounded and integrated recovery plan that may include counseling, medication, support groups, education programs, and other strategies that may work for you. If you or a loved one is experiencing mental health symptoms, please seek support and services through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to find additional information or resources. If you are seeking a trusted professional, please visit Psychology Today to find a counselor near you.

If you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself or others, please call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.