Real, Common, Treatable

 

Many mental illnesses are caused by biochemical disturbances in the brain and others are triggered by exposure to an extremely stressful event.  They encompass many conditions and disorders, including depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and panic disorders.

 

An estimated 22.1 percent of American ages 18 and older - about 1 in 5 adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.  Four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the United States are mental disorders.  Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time.

 

While both men and women are burdened by the personal and financial toil that mental illnesses bring, women are more often affected by certain conditions.  For example, women are affected twice as often as men by most forms of depression and anxiety disorders, and nine times as often by eating disorders.  One out of four women will suffer from clinical depression; only 20 percent of those women will get the help they need.

 

Mental illnesses are treatable, especially when treatment is not delayed.  For persons of any age early detection and treatment can help prevent mental illnesses from worsening and can improve the individual's chances for full recovery.  Therefore, it is critical for a person to seek mental health care when he or she needs it, it is equally important for service providers, friends, and family members to be informed about the symptoms of a mental illness and the treatment options available.

Myth: Mental illnesses are only in your mind; they're not real illnesses.

Reality: Mental illnesses are serious medical conditions, just like cancer or diabetes, that can have a dramatic impact on a person's life, family and community and on society as a whole - and they can be tremendously debilitating. Since 1996, we have more data on the impact of mental illnesses on functioning than we ever had before, thanks to "The Global Burden of Disease," a landmark study done by the Harvard School of Public Health. That study showed that, when compared with any other health condition, mental illnesses are among the most debilitating, and depression is the No. 1 cause of disability internationally.

 

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Reality: There is nothing crazy or abnormal about people who have a mental illness. It's a very
democratic condition; we are all at risk. We all likely have at least one relative, loved one, neighbor or co-worker who is living with a mental illness. Mental illnesses are just that - illnesses.

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Myth: Treatment goes on forever and doesn't really help.

Reality: We know mental illnesses are, for the most part, highly treatable, and most people do get better when they're treated appropriately. For example, about 80% of people who seek treatment for depression -- one of the most treatable of all mental illnesses - will improve with therapy or medication or a combination of the two. A diagnosis of depression does not mean you face a lifetime of analysis or medication. The myth that mentally ill people cannot get better perpetuates the barrier of stigma, embarrassment and fear that deters some people from
recognizing and accepting that they have a mental illness -- and then seeking and receiving help.

 

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Myth: Mental health isn't as important to your well-being as physical health.

Reality: Mental health is an integral part of health. When our mental health is poor because of stress or other challenges in our lives, it can weaken the immune system and affect the entire body. We know that chronic stress can play a role in obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. People who feel depressed are overly stressed and may be at greater risk of physical illness.

 

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Myth: Changing behavior is easy. All it takes is willpower to overcome mental illness.

Reality: If changing behavior were easy, everyone would find it easy to lose weight and follow
healthful habits. Those of us in the mental health field are always looking for ways to help people make behavioral changes so they can live healthy and fulfilling lives. For example, one of the most useful ways to effectively deal with depression is behavioral -- exercise, eat a balanced diet, relate to other people and do not get isolated, even when you feel like saying, "What's the use?" Bottom Line: We cannot separate mental health from health in general. The fact is, good

 

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