Mental Health Awareness Month - May 2022
More than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year, setting another tragic record in the nation's escalating overdose epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated Wednesday. The provisional 2021 total translates to roughly one U.S. overdose death every 5 minutes. It marked a 15% increase from the previous record, set the year before. We all know that mental health goes hand in hand with drug addiction and suicide making this decade by far the most impactful time in history. The most common mental health disorders include anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, depression, ADD/ADHD spectrum, bipolar disorder, insomnia, and schizophrenia. Recent studies show that mental disorders and substance abuse are the leading cause of non-fatal illness worldwide.
The National Institute of Mental Health published a statement that 25% of North Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental condition. Along with a rise of those with a mental health disorder is a documented increase, of up to a third, in the number receiving treatment. That’s 1 in 4 American’s with at least one mental illness within the categories of anxiety disorders, mood disorders, impulse-control disorders, and substance use disorders. While the percentage indicates those with at least one disorder, most met the criteria for more than one diagnosis.
Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, Social Guru 4 You joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Including the mental health challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including substance use, youth mental health, and suicide. Within our community we hope to bring light to the mental health crisis by raising awareness to help fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. Particularly, focusing on the youth and veterans who live among us in this beautiful community.
Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 14 and adults aged 24 to 35. While suicide was responsible for nearly 46,000 deaths in 2020, many more people attempt or have serious thoughts of suicide according the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Whether you realize it or not, mental health plays a big role in your overall well-being. When you’re mentally healthy, you are able to enjoy your life and the people in it, feel good about yourself, keep up good relationships, and deal with stress. It’s normal for your mental health to shift over time we all face difficult situations in our lives. A big part of the fight against discrimination is the stigma that is behind mental illness. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of shame or judgement from someone else. Stigma can even come from an internal place, confusing feeling bad with being bad. Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well. Learning how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us, especially when you realize stigma’s effects.
You are not alone in this. We can all help prevent suicide. If you need suicide or mental health-related crisis support, or are worried about someone else, please call or text 1-800-273-8255 or visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to connect with a trained crisis counselor. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. For Veterans and their loved ones please call 1-800-273-8255. You can also click on the links below for further information.