Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and affects how we think, feel and act. Mental health is important at every stage of life from young childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Mental illness are conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior and can cause depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Poor mental health vs. mental illness: Often these two terms are used interchangeable; however, it is important to note that they are not the same things. A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. While someone diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods of physical, mental, and social well-being.
Believe it or not mental illnesses are the most common health conditions in the United States:
- More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.
- 20% of youth ages 12-18 live with a mental health condition.
- 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year
- 1 in 5 children currently or at some point during their life have had a seriously devastating mental illness.
- 1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing poor mental health, Addison (and surrounding towns) offers several Counseling and Mental Health Services. Visit the resources page for a full list of services.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/Children-MH-Facts-NAMI.pdf
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/state-mental-health-america
Addison Resource Guide 