Mental Health Awareness In May

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. This has led to more and more discussion of the importance of mental health. This year for mental health awareness month we are taking the time to discuss the importance of mental health to help de-stigmatize how we think about and approach mental health issues.

People often focus much more on physical health than mental health, but both are equally important. Both are connected and problems with one can increase the risk of problems with the other. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, as well as helping determine how we handle stress, relationships, and make choices. Mental health is important for all ages and can impact every area of our lives.

Mental illnesses are one of the most common health conditions in the United States. While 1 in 5 individuals will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges that impact their mental health. There is no one single cause for a mental health condition. There are many risk factors that can influence how likely a person is to experience a mental health condition. Some of these risk factors include genetics, trauma, brain chemistry, environment, and lifestyle habits. Understanding these risk factors can help one to identify patterns that may be caused by a mental health condition. Most mental health conditions are treatable with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Prevention and treatment are effective, and people can recover from mental health conditions and live full, productive lives.

Many people often spend months or years facing mental health challenges before getting help. This does not have to be the norm. It is never too early to seek treatment for your mental health. Early intervention can help decrease symptoms, reduce the risk of psychiatric hospitalization, foster better relationships, and save lives.

Take a free, anonymous mental health screening at

https://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/portagecounty to get some insight into your own mental health and connect to local resources. This is one of the easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Getting screened increases the chances of getting treatment and can be used to start a conversation so you can begin to plan a course of action for addressing your mental health needs.

For more information and resources visit our website at www.mental-health-recovery.org. If you or someone you know is in distress, call the local helpline at 330-678-HELP or text 4hope to 741741.