As I mentioned in my previous blog Brain Cancer Awareness Month, May is a month full of recognition. May is National Walking Month, Arthritis Awareness Month, Women’s Health Care Month, Better Sleep Month, Military Appreciation Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, etc. Among all the recognition, mental health awareness and brain cancer awareness hit close to home for me. I love that there is a month dedicated to raising awareness for brain cancer as well as mental health. In this past year I’ve learned just how strongly the two go hand-in-hand.
I have always been a huge advocate for mental health and wellness. I have a bachelors and masters degree in psychology and have worked in mental health for most of my working life in some form or fashion. The past 7 years I found my home working at PrairieCare which has definitely changed my life. It’s one thing to learn about psychology and mental health in school, and another thing entirely when it’s put into practice. It was especially eye opening working at a mental health facility during the pandemic. I witnessed first hand the uptick in the demand for mental health services. It’s so disheartening to hear from person after person that they have been unable to find the care they need, and there’s nothing more rewarding then when we can turn that around for them.
The facts
Mental Health Awareness Month has been recognized since 1949. In my opinion, we haven’t come nearly far enough in that time. The facts are astonishing and they speak for themselves. Over 50 million Americans struggle with mental illness. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Those struggling with mental illness are more likely to struggle with substance abuse. Mental illnesses typically come from a mix of environmental factors, life experiences, family history, and biological makeup. It has nothing to do with being “tough” or “weak minded”. Some of the strongest most resilient people I know struggle with mental illness. Half of all mental illnesses present early on, often by the age of 14. Suicide is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
If these facts aren’t alarming enough, there are more. A lot more. Patients hospitalized with serious mental illness are much more likely to be readmitted within the next 30 days if they do not receive follow-up treatment. And many of those patients are discharged to home without an adequate plan or follow up services scheduled, making them much less likely to pursue services on their own. The average hospital cost for a patient readmitted for a mood disorder is $7,100.
There are a lot of myths and a lot of stigma surrounding mental health. I encourage everyone to familiarize yourself even at a basic level so that you can recognize the signs in yourself and/or your loved ones. Knowledge is power!
Looking forward
It does seem that we are making great progress on destigmatizing mental health. After the pandemic especially, I would be surprised if there’s anyone left out there who does not recognize the significance and importance of mental health.
Early on in 2022, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced nearly $35 million in funding opportunities through the Office of Minority Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This funding was to provide more support for children and young adults specifically. Later that same year, another funding opportunity was announced through SAMHSA that called for states to develop and transform Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) to address the country’s mental health crisis. CCBHCs are 24/7 and serve anyone seeking mental health or substance abuse support regardless of ability to pay. By October of 2022, $315 million was awarded for CCBHC planning and development.
Those are some real, tangible actions that have been taken to address the mental health crisis. We still have a long way to go, though. We know that over half of Americans with a mental health condition do not receive treatment for it. We know that mental health facilities outside of CCBHCs struggle to meet the demand from the community. We know that untreated mental health conditions have a cost that this country can’t continue to afford. NAMI estimates that untreated mental health conditions cost the country up to $300 billion every year due to losses in productivity. There is work to be done my friends. But every step counts and it’s up to each one of us to push change forward.
How you can help
There are many ways that you can help. One of the simplest things that you can start now is spreading awareness and taking part in observing mental health awareness, not just this month, but every day. Be mindful of how you speak about mental health and who you speak around – you never know what others are going through. To really hold yourself accountable you can visit the Nami website and take the pledge to be StigmaFree! Will you take the pledge with me?
Another way to get involved, spread awareness and make a difference is by sharing your own story. You can do this through your own platforms (social media, website, etc), through word of mouth, or another cool way to share your story is the IDONTMIND journal. You can also volunteer for Crisis Text Line – if you are interested you can visit their website!
As I mentioned at the beginning, May is the month for walking (and not just for mental health). Find a NAMI walk to participate in or visit Very Well Mind to find other ways to walk/run for mental health! You can also start a fundraiser, find awareness events to attend, share your story, or attend a convention. I highly recommend checking out the NAMI website for more information!
♡ Hailey
I pulled all factual information from SAMHSA, NAMI, and DoSomething.Org 😊