April is National Counseling Awareness Month, and so I thought it would be a good idea to take this time to talk a little about mental health and the benefits of seeking treatment for whatever issues you may be facing.
When we talk about mental health, we are talking about our emotional, psychological and social well-being. Our mental health not only affects how we feel but also how we think and behave as well as handle stress and make decisions.
It is important to note that mental illness does not need to be a permanent condition. Most people who experience mental illness recover and return to normal mental functioning.
Mental Health Statistics
Just how common are mental illnesses in the United States? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- More than 50% of American adults will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their life.
- In any given year, one in five people in this country will experience a mental illness.
- Children are not immune to mental health challenges, in fact, one in five will experience a serious mental illness at some point.
Causes of Mental Illness
While there is no single cause of mental illness, there are some common factors that are believed to contribute to the risk of developing mental health issues. These include:
- Feeling lonely and/or isolated.
- Accumulation of stress.
- Trauma or a history of abuse.
- Stress-related to ongoing chronic diseases such as cancer or heart disease.
- Chemical imbalances such as hormonal imbalances.
- Use of drugs and alcohol.
Therapy Can Help
Living with a mental illness can be incredibly painful. This is why National Counseling Awareness Month was started, to help those in need recognize there are people and resources available to them. A professionally trained therapist can help you uncover the cause of your mental illness as well as offer tools and coping mechanisms to turn your life around.
At Orleans Psychological Services, we have therapists who are trained to treat individual children, adolescents, adults, families and couples. Keep in mind that we are offering sessions securely over the internet, which increases our availability throughout the state of Ohio.
Sarah O’Donnell, LISW, PMH-C, Dr. Barbara Warren and Dr. Tim Luis would be more than happy to speak with you about your needs. We are also proud to introduce our newest member, Dr. Amy Smith who is available to provide psychiatric and medication management services!
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