This health observance strongly supports the idea that anyone affected by a mental health condition should be able to get the appropriate support and care they need to live a healthy, fulfilling life.
- Although some progress has been made, the stigma around mental health and treatment has long existed. Many people still hesitate to seek help or even talk about their mental health conditions with loved ones for fear of being judged and facing uninformed backlash.
- A great way to mark Mental Health Awareness month is to talk about it. When you share insights and realities about mental health challenges, these conditions become more normalized and less mysterious.
- Take care of yourself and your loved ones. If you are struggling, reach out for the care you need. If a loved one is suffering, provide an ear to listen and/or a shoulder to cry on.
As many of you may know, May is Mental Health Month. Throughout the month we will be highlighting the importance of speaking openly about mental health. One in five adults in the U.S. experience a mental health condition within a given year. Youth mental health is worsening, with severe depression rates continually increasing. While this is important to address year-round, emphasizing mental health awareness during May provides a time for people to come together and help reduce mental illness stigma.
With your help, we can bring awareness to the prevalence of mental health conditions in our communities. It’s our job to help end the stigma surrounding addictions and mental health by sharing resources and starting conversations. Throughout the month of May, we encourage family, friends, and loved ones to learn more about mental health.
Here are some important facts you should know:
- Nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.
- 46 percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14.
- Over half of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, totaling over 27 million adults in the U.S. who are going untreated.
- In 2019, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 19.86% of adults experienced a mental illness, equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans.
- Rates of substance use are increasing for youth and adults, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 7.74% of U.S. adults and 4.08% of youth had a substance use disorder in the past year. Substance use increased 0.07% for adults and 0.25% for youth over last year’s report
Remember, mental illness does not discriminate. Join us to help bring attention to the importance of sharing mental health stories and help improve the lives of millions of Americans living with a mental illness.
Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/about/bh-resources/mymh or call your program for confidential mental health resources.