by Gina DeMent, Public Information Officer
Five County Mental Health Authority
Every day, Americans are affected by the challenges, stresses and demands on their lives. And every day, they seek help in responding to them.
The good news is that there are effective tools that are readily available and free for anyone to use to help improve their well-being.
This May is Mental Health Month. Mental Health America is encouraging Americans to use these tools, which are the foundation for the Live Your Life Well (SM) campaign.
Live Your Life Well (SM) is a national public education campaign dedicated to helping people better cope with stress and enhance their well-being. Stress can take a huge toll on a person’s health, mood, productivity and relationships, but there are evidence-based tools that can help counterbalance these effects.
Good mental health is essential to overall health and personal well-being. It also contributes to the ability to lead a healthy, balanced, and productive life. Emotional problems can impair a person’s thinking, feelings, and behavior and, over time, can become increasingly serious and disabling. Unfortunately, many people do not seek treatment for mental health issues for a number of reasons. They may not be completely aware of the extent of their problem, they may be hesitant to make contact with a mental health professional because they fear they will be stigmatized, or they may not know how to access services. Yet, overall quality of life is greatly improved when a person with a mental health concern or problem seeks help and receives appropriate treatment from a qualified professional.
Good mental health isn’t just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental and emotional health refers to the presence of positive characteristics.
People who are mentally and emotionally healthy have:
These positive characteristics of mental and emotional health allow you to participate in life to the fullest extent possible through productive, meaningful activities and strong relationships. These positive characteristics also help you cope when faced with life’s challenges and stresses.
One in four adults will experience a diagnosable mental health disorder at some point in their lives. Mental health disorders affect individuals regardless of demographic factors such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, location, or economic status. Mental health disorders are treatable and recovery is possible; yet, because of the stigma and discrimination long associated with mental health issues, some people are reluctant to seek treatment.
Depression, anxiety, panic and mood disorders, social phobias, attention deficit disorders, autism and Alzheimer’s disease are all considered mental illnesses. Bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and suicide are some of the disorders more commonly associated with mental illness.
Mental illness usually strikes in the prime of life, often during adolescence or young adulthood. It also strikes the elderly. However, mental illness can strike anyone at any age regardless of race, religious beliefs, or socio-economic status.
Just as Americans have learned there are things they can do to reduce their risk of heart disease and other illnesses, Mental Health America wants to help people learn what they can do both to protect their mental health in tough times and also to improve their mental well-being throughout their lives.
The National Mental Health Month campaign gives us an opportunity to promote health and wellness while informing residents of mental health services in our community and giving hope to those struggling with mental illness. One way in which we are helping to bring mental health literacy to the general public is through the Mental Health First Aid program. This twelve-hour program is offered to individuals, groups and agencies. You’ll learn how to identify or help someone developing a mental illness or substance abuse problem. You will learn ways to provide support to someone experiencing a crisis until appropriate professional help can be obtained. A small fee of $15.00 per person covers books and supplies. Classes can be scheduled at the convenience of the group and are offered in Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Vance and Warren counties. If you are not in a group but have an interest in the next class in your area, contact Anita Mason at 252.430.3035 or by email.
Anne Williams, the Prevention Specialist for Five County Mental Health Authority offers many free classes to the community. “Coping With Work and Family Stress” helps adults identify stressors at home, work and the environment, teaches assertive communication skills, and helps participants learn stress management and relaxation techniques. The class includes brief screenings on depression, alcohol and coping skills. The SOS (Signs of Suicide) program can be used to help raise awareness of depression signs and symptoms and provides education on suicide risk and prevention for teens and people who work with teens. For more information on other available classes, call 252.430.3077.
If you’ve made consistent efforts to improve your mental and emotional health and you still don’t feel good, then it’s time to seek professional help. The Five County Mental Health Authority has helped improve the health and lives of its citizens. As we work to increase awareness of mental health issues, our goal is to help more people to know that caring for their minds as well as their bodies helps keep them productive, healthy and happy in all aspects of life: at work, at home and at school.
We want to ask your help in raising awareness about mental health during National Mental Health Month by encouraging friends and loved ones with symptoms of mental illness to get help as soon as possible.
If you are suffering from a behavioral health issue, seek professional help. If someone you know is suffering from depression or severe stress, encourage them to seek help.
For mental health services, contact your family physician or call the Five County Mental Health Authority toll-free at 1.877.619.3761.
More details on each of the tools are available on the campaign website which is free to the public.