Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. It’s important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact — and so we can show that no one is alone. These numbers are also powerful tools for raising public awareness, stigma-busting and advocating for better health care.
A mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling or mood. Such conditions may affect someone's ability to relate to others and function each day. Each person will have different experiences, even people with the same diagnosis. Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are, and what might be the signs of a mental health condition, isn't always easy, but identifying a problem early can help lead to the best outcome.
Frequently we find ourselves wanting to learn how to take charge of our own mental health or how to help a loved one or friend. Take a look at these helpful tips on what mental health is and what it is not. Additional information on what is appropriate to say to a co-worker, friend, loved one, or even a stranger will help break down the stigma of mental illness and build a compassionate community to help individuals find the treatment they need.
We all experience emotional ups and downs from time to time caused by events in our lives. Mental health conditions go beyond these emotional reactions and become something longer lasting. They are medical conditions that cause changes in our mood and how we think and feel. They are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing.
Innovations in the range of evidence based medications, therapy and psychosocial services such as psychiatric rehabilitation, housing, employment and peer supports have made wellness and recovery a reality for people living with mental health conditions. Choosing the right mix of treatments and supports that work for you is an important step in the recovery process.
Treatment choices for mental health conditions will vary from person to person. Even people with the same diagnosis will have different experiences, needs, goals and objectives for treatment. There is no “one size fits all” treatment.
When people are directly involved in designing their own treatment plan, including defining recovery and wellness goals, choosing services that support them and evaluating treatment decisions and progress , the experience of care and outcomes are improved.There are many tools that can improve the experience on the road to wellness: medication, counseling (therapy), social support and education.
Together with a treatment team you can develop a well-rounded and integrated recovery plan that may include counseling, medications, support groups, education programs and other strategies that work for you.
One of NAMI’s main goals is to ensure that people get help early. Since mental health conditions typically begin during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood, we have compiled essential information and resources intended to help young people get the mental health support they need.
Living with mental illness can be difficult. One of NAMI's goals is to lighten that burden. Listed below is a outline we've provided on some of the common struggles you may face as well as how to overcome them.
When someone has a mental health condition, support from family can make a big difference. However, it may be hard for us as family members to know what approach is best. It's particularly difficult to balance showing support with caring for our own health and encouraging others to be responsible for their actions.
When someone rejects a diagnosis of mental illness, it’s tempting to say that he's “in denial.” But someone with acute mental illness may not be thinking clearly enough to consciously choose denial.
Frequently we find ourselves wanting to learn how to take charge of our own mental health or how to help a loved one or friend. Take a look at these helpful tips on what mental health is and what it is not. Additional information on what is appropriate to say to a co-worker, friend, loved one, or even a stranger will help break down the stigma of mental illness and build a compassionate community to help individuals find the treatment they need.
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