May is Mental Health Awareness Month
For nearly 70 years the month of May has been annually recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in an effort to help make the public better aware of the many issues associated with mental illness.
While a few may believe that challenges with mental illness do not or will not affect them, they may be surprised to learn that according to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in every five adults in the U.S. must deal with a mental illness condition during their lifetime.
This means essentially that 20 percent of the adults living in this local community will have some bout with mental illness during their lifetime.
One main goal of May being proclaimed as Mental Health Awareness Month sis to make the public aware that there are professionals available and accessible to come to the aid of those dealing with mental health issues.
It is important to know and understand that mental illness issues can be treated and that help is as near as a local mental health center.
Matters related to mental illness for which Tennesseans should be aware include the fact that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide; that addiction and substance abuse are considered mental health issues; that 50 percent of all lifetime mental illness cases begin at age 14; and that 60 percent of adults and 50 percent of youth (ages 8-15) who suffer with mental illness did not receive treatment during the past year.
While much attention continues to be focused on suicide prevention in Tennessee, records produced by the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network show that each day in Tennessee an average of three people die by suicide.
As recently as 2016, suicide was still the second leading cause of death in the Volunteer state for young persons 10 to 19 years old with one person being lost to suicide in this age group every week.
