Mental Illness Awareness Week

Mental Illness Awareness Week occurs during the first week of October with each day focusing on a specific topic. Stigma, medication, therapy, disclosing, and caregiving are the topics discussed so that people can become further educated on the aspects of these topics. 

Mental illness has become a serious health concern in the United States and by talking about what people are going through we can further raise awareness. Somebody that you know or love experiences a mental illness each year because one in five adults are diagnosed with a mental illness each year. In addition, one in six children between the ages of six and seventeen are diagnosed with a mental health disorder annually. If you as an individual have never experienced a mental illness it is still vital to become informed for those we love and society as a whole. 

In the United States alone each year 48 million people are diagnosed with anxiety disorders, 1.5 million people with schizophrenia, 9 million people with posttraumatic stress disorder, and 3 million people with obsessive compulsive disorder. However, only about half of those diagnosed will receive treatment leaving the other half untreated and in need. Mental illness needs to be treated as the health concern that it is with treatment available to any individual in need of assistance. 

If you or a loved one is seeking support or information on anything related to mental health, contact the NAMI HelpLine for additional help. This HelpLine is free and offers information, referrals, support for anyone living with a mental health condition as well as their family and caregivers. You can also call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640. 

Source: NAMI.org