As April was Counseling Awareness Month, I thought it could be helpful to take several moments to speak to mental health (some basic statistics and common contributing factors) and the benefits of participating in treatment to address mental health concerns.
Mental health means our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health impacts how we feel and think as well as how we behave in our efforts to navigate our stressors.
Mental Health Statistics
How common is mental illness 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 in the United States one in five people will experience mental illness
- Children are not immune such that one in five American children will experience a mental health challenge during their youth
Causes of Mental Illness
While there is no single cause of mental illness, there are common factors understood to contribute to the risk of developing mental health concerns. These risk factors include:
- History of trauma or abuse
- Stress related to chronic health conditions such as cancer or heart disease
- Use of drugs or alcohol
- Feeling lonely or isolated
Talk Therapy Can Help
Living with mental illness can be painful. Counseling Awareness Month was launched to help those in need recognize there are providers and resources available to them. Working with a skilled, experienced psychologist, therapist, or counselor can help uncover factors contributing to mental illness as well as increase awareness and use of adaptive skills to cope more effectively with these challenges.
If you are interested in further exploring your mental health concerns, I invite you to call or email me to get started working together. Telehealth appointments are available.
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