What is Mental Illness?
A mental illness is a condition that impacts a person’s thinking, feeling or mood and may affect his or her ability to relate to others and function on a daily basis. Each person will have different experiences, even people with the same diagnosis. Recovery, including meaningful roles in social life, school and work, is possible, especially when you start treatment early and play a strong role in your own recovery process. A mental health condition isn’t the result of one event. Research suggests multiple, interlinking causes. Genetics, environment and lifestyle combine to influence whether someone develops a mental health condition.
MH Links
If you or someone you know has a mental health problem, there are ways to get help. Studies show that most people with mental health problems get better and many recover completely.
African Americans & Mental Health
African American communities across the United States are more culturally diverse now that any other time in history with increasing numbers of immigrants from African nations, the Caribbean, Central America and other countries. To ensure African American communities have access to adequate and affordable care, a better understanding of the complex role that cultural backgrounds and diverse experiences play in mental disorders in these communities is vital.
Military
Get the Help You’ve Earned. Confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through the Military Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1), online chat and text (838255). In Europe call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118*. In Korea call 0808 555 118 or DSN 118. You can also access resources and information anytime.
Children Mental Health
Researchers supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have found that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and that despite effective treatments, there are long delays — sometimes decades — between first onset of symptoms and when people seek and receive treatment. The study also reveals that an untreated mental disorder can lead to a more severe, more difficult to treat illness, and to the development of co-occurring mental illnesses.
Women Mental Health
Mental illnesses affect women and men differently — some disorders are more common in women, and some express themselves with different symptoms. Scientists are only now beginning to tease apart the contributions of various biological and psychosocial factors to mental health and mental illness in both women and men. In addition, researchers are currently studying the special problems of treatment for serious mental illness during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Men Mental Health
Depression is under-diagnosed in men. Men are over four times more likely than women to commit suicide. Overall, women are about twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with a mental health issue. But that statistic tells only a small part of the story. Just as the body changes with age, so does the mind.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is any form of sexual violence, including rape, child molestation, incest, and similar forms of non-consensual sexual contact. Get Help….National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673)
Violence Against People With A Mental Illness
Victimization Of People With SMI
Family Violence Prevention
Rape Abuse & Inceset National Network
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Stop Human Trafficking
Family Crisis Center PG County Maryland
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health
Substance Abuse
According to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), 50 percent of the people who have a severe mental condition also have a substance abuse problem. The JAMA also found that 37 percent of alcoholics have a mental illness, as do 53 percent of drug addicts. These high rates make the relationship between mental health and drug abuse a strong one. Many studies have been performed to discover the reason for such a relationship. Although many studies are ongoing, mental health professionals have determined a few things about addiction and mental health.
Inmate Population
Of the nearly 2 million inmates being held in prisons and jails across the country, experts believe nearly 500,000 are mentally ill. According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), 16 percent of the prison population can be classified as severely mentally ill, meaning that they fit the psychiatric classification for illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder.
Child Abuse
The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family; however, when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination you should take a closer look at the situation and consider the possibility of child abuse.
Homelessness
Approximately 20 – 25% of the single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness (National Resource and Training Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness, 2003). While 22% of the American population suffers from a mental illness, a small percentage of the 44 million people who have a serious mental illness are homeless at any given point in time (National Institute of Mental Health, 2005).
Paying for Care – Resources
Many pharmaceutical companies offer medication assistance programs to low-income individuals and families. These programs typically require a doctor’s consent, proof of financial status and you may not have a prescription drug benefit through health insurance. You may contact the pharmaceutical directly to get specific eligibility requirements and application information. Below is a listing of commonly prescribed psychiatric medication and information about contacting the pharmaceutical company.
Crisis Centers
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of over 170 local crisis centers, allowing the Lifeline to provide local resources with innovative best practices and quality care across the United States.
