PINEVILLE, La. (KALB) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health conditions.
Mental Health Awareness Month was founded by Mental Health America in 1949 to reduce stigma, educate the public and promote support for mental well-being.
It provides a chance to stand with your community and show that no one struggles alone. Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year.
“Nearly 1 in 4 adults are struggling with their mental health,” said Michalene, LPC. “What’s more telling is that half of them aren’t getting the help that they need because we have a provider shortage. The data says that over 137 million Americans live in areas where there is a mental health provider shortage. Rural areas are impacted at an even greater rate. Some good data is that Gen Z, 42% of that population, are currently in therapy, which is a 22% increase from 2022.”
There is a wide variety of mental health illnesses, but the most common ones are depression and anxiety.
Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include difficulty getting out of bed, changes in hygiene and withdrawal from social settings.
“Hard to get out of bed, we know that one, right, but other things to look out for, as I said, changes in hygiene are another big one,” Perry said. “Answering texts can feel really difficult, so again that isolation piece can be present, but even when someone’s in a room with other people, sometimes they may just be withdrawing in those settings.”
According to Be Inspired Counseling and Consulting, a lot of people don’t reach out for help because they are scared of how people will view them.
“There are still labels. There’s still stigma and like a fear of being crazy or being different,” Perry said. “Sometimes there’s a fear of speaking up. Some other barriers, a lot of times it’s this belief that we have to tough it out, right? We just have to grin and bear it. Other people have it worse than I do. But in the long run, that just deteriorates our mental health more.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You can call or text 988.
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