We often hear the clinical terms used by doctors and other professionals to identify the symptoms of mental illnesses but if someone hasn’t gone through it, would they know how to recognize it? So often, clinical terms don’t do justice to what life with a mental illness feels like. We know that two people with the same diagnosis can experience the same symptom and describe it in very different ways. Understanding the signs of a mental illness and identifying how it can feel can be confusing and sometimes can contribute to ongoing silence or hesitation to get help. It’s important for people to talk about how it feels to live with a mental illness. We know that mental illnesses are common and treatable, and help is available. But not everyone knows what to look for when they are going through those early stages, and many simply experience symptoms differently. We all need to speak up early and in real, relatable terms so that people do not feel isolated and alone.
Mental health problems are actually very common. The latest reports show that about:
- One in five American adults experienced a mental health issue
- One in 5 young people (ages 13-18) experienced a period of major depression
- One in 25 Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. It accounts for the loss of more than 45,979 American lives each year, more than double the number of lives lost to homicide.1 Learn more about mental health problems
MONITOR YOUR SYMPTOMS
Screening tools can help you to monitor the severity of your symptoms. Visit mhascreening.org every so often to take a screen and “check-in” on your mental health.
FIND YOUR LOCAL MHA AFFILIATE
Mental Health America has over 200 affiliates in 40 states that can help you with programs and services to support your recovery. Find the affiliate closest to you by entering your ZIP code at: https://arc.mentalhealthamerica.net/find-an-affiliate.
FIND TREATMENT PROVIDERS
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has an online treatment locator that can help you find a variety of mental health professionals at findtreatment.samhsa.gov.
FIND PEOPLE TO TALK TO
Warmlines are numbers that you can call (usually during business hours) to find someone to talk to if you are struggling with your mental health. Find a warmline in your area by visiting warmline.org. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), go to your local Emergency Room or call 911.