May is Mental Health Month |
Mental Health Month is an annual observance designed to increase awareness about mental health and mental illness. This year's theme, "Mental Health Matters: In Your Life," reminds Americans that caring for their mental health is as important as taking care of their physical health because mental health impacts all areas of life. This observance is sponsored by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (NCCBH). NMHA is an advocacy organization dedicated to improving the mental health of all Americans. NCCBH is a nonprofit trade association for providers of mental health and addiction treatment services. It was in 1949 that Congress set aside May to be “Mental Health Month”.
About mental health Rosalyn Carter has said: “People with mental problems are our neighbors. They are members of our congregations, members of our families; they are everywhere in this country. If we ignore their cries for help, we will be continuing to participate in the anguish from which those cries for help come. A problem of this magnitude will not go away. Because it will not go away, and because of our spiritual commitments, we are compelled to take action.” It is part of the Spiritual Commitment and sense of how we understand people that leads us at Samaritan Counseling Center to want to make the public aware of this major health concern. While the above mental health organizations have taken the lead to promote this concern many other mental health groups join this effort. Here are some facts: According to the Surgeon General, one in every five Americans experiences a mental disorder in any given year and half of all Americans have such disorders at some time in their lives. These illnesses of the brain affect all of us, regardless of age, gender, economic status or ethnicity.
Mental illness affects the mind, body and the spirit. It is a real, common and treatable illness. Mental illnesses are far more common than cancer, diabetes, heart disease or arthritis.
Why is good mental health important? 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.
Numerous websites highlight and lift up the importance of this month. I looked at several websites to gather this information to give you, the reader, a flavor of how important a health concern this is. If you need to seek help; your good health depends on it.
Dr. Paul Melrose is Executive Director of the Samaritan Counseling Center of
SE Michigan. He can be reached at www.paulmelrose.com or through 248-474-4701.
The Staff of the Samaritan Counseling Center at
www.samaritancounselingmichigan.com, or through 248-474-4701.
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