May 7, 2018
Nearly one in six adults (44.7 million people) in the US experiences mental illness each year. That’s a lot of people, but you don’t hear a lot of people talking about it. These struggles include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.
The good news is that most of these disorders can be treated. Treatment for everyone is different and counselors will make a plan specific to each person, based on the disorder, other mental health issues they may be dealing with, environment, finances and even family history.
Untreated, mental health issues lead to other issues. Mental health issues are a leading cause of disability. Untreated conditions can lead to conflicts in relationships, isolation, problems with alcohol and other drugs, financial problems, poverty, self-harm, as well as heart disease and other medical conditions.
There is no trick to preventing mental health struggles. But there are things you can do. Like pay attention to warning sighs, check-in with the doc, get help when you need it, and take good care of yourself.
One last thing, be courageous. Don’t suffer in silence. The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center is here to help all regardless of faith or finances.
Article Written By: Sr. Barbara Kennedy, OSM, LPC
