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October is the month where the focus is on mental health and mental health awareness.
This year, Mental Illness Awareness Week, an opportunity to shed light on mental illness and replace stigma with hope, is scheduled for October 7-13. This year's theme is "#CureStigma". Each year, efforts are made to combat the stigma associated with mental illness, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care.
According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, one in five adults has a mental illness in a given year. These problems can contribute to the onset of more serious long-term conditions such as major depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. About half of chronic mental illness starts at age 14. Unfortunately, long delays – sometimes decades – often occur between the time symptoms appear and when people get help.
It is essential to learn to recognize the early symptoms of mental illness and to discuss with a doctor any concerns. Early identification and treatment can make a big difference to the successful management of a condition.
For example, major depression is a mood disorder more serious than the "blue sensation" or temporary sadness. Be alert for any combination of symptoms including depressed mood (sadness), low concentration, insomnia, fatigue, appetite disorders, feelings of guilt, and suicidal thoughts.
Bipolar disorder involves cycles of depression and mania. It's different from the normal "ups and downs" that many people experience. This involves dramatic changes in mood, energy and ability to think clearly. The symptoms are not the same for everyone. some people may experience intense "highs", while others suffer mainly from depression.
Mania involves combinations of euphoria, surges of energy, reduced need for sleep, grandiosity, chatter, extreme irritability, restlessness, search for pleasure and increased risk-taking.
Schizophrenia is a different type of mental illness but may include mood disorder features. It affects a person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions, and build relationships with others. Untreated, it can also include psychosis – a loss of contact with reality.
Symptoms include difficulty remembering, difficulty organizing thoughts, lack of content in speech, emotional leveling, inability to start or complete activities, inability to experience pleasure, delusions and hallucinations.
Other types of mental illness include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety Disorders (including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and Borderline Personality Disorder. Mental Illness Awareness Week is an opportunity to become familiar with each of them.
National Depression Screening Day will be held on. 11. You can do an anonymous screening of depression at helpyourselfhelpothers.org and learn more at mentalhealthscreening.org/programs/ndsd.
There are websites with useful and useful information:
– National Alliance for Mental Health: nami.org.
– Administration of Addiction and Mental Health Services: samhsa.gov.
Anyone with symptoms of mental illness should consult a physician to discuss and check their physical condition. The next step could be the reference to a mental health specialist. Many treatment options exist.
If you ever feel in crisis or have a family member or friend in a mental health crisis, consider calling one of the following numbers:
– National suicide prevention lifeline: 800-273-8255.
– National Assistance Line: 800-662-4357.
– NAMI helpline: 800-950-6264.
– Disaster helpline: 800 985-5990.
During Mental Illness Awareness Week, please take the first step towards #CureStigma by taking the test on curestigma.org to determine if you are being stigmatized and help us be part of the antidote to remove barriers that prevent people to find help and support.
For more information on themes and programs related to family life, visit the University of Illinois website at web.extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/ or contact Chelsey Byers Gerstenecker at 217-333- 7672 or [email protected].
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