Facing Mental Health Challenges: You're Not ALone

Mental health challenges can be overwhelming. It can feel as though things will never improve and that you are alone on an island and incapable of connecting with the world around you. Many times, when we face these types of challenges we wonder if we are the only ones.

The answer is an emphatic no. Mental health challenges of all kinds are commonly experienced here in the US. And if you include those who experience symptoms but don’t qualify for a diagnosis, the number of people affected goes up even higher.

The context in which we find ourselves today is jam packed with all manner of events that can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Our nation seems to be increasingly divided over just about everything. The climate is changing and the alarm that scientists are sounding is ever more ominous. Many Americans are working huge numbers of hours each week simply to make ends meet.

On top of that, we all have the typical daily stresses of work, kids, etc. When we take that into account, it shouldn’t be surprising that mental health challenges are common. Below, you will find some information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) that point out just how common some of these challenges are. If you are facing a mental health challenge today, know that you are not alone, and that help is available.

As you can see from the infographic, mental health challenges are common in the United States. They are somewhat more prevalent in some specific populations of people but across the nation they are common.

One in 20 American adults will experience serious mental illness. That is 5% of the adult population of the US which equates to roughly 10.5 MILLION people. Yes. You read that correctly. Ten and a half MILLION adults.

Hopefully that makes it abundantly clear how common some of these challenges are. And that number goes UP if you are looking at common mental health challenges and not serious ones. Anxiety disorders affect 39.7 MILLION American adults each year. Depressive disorders affect 16.7 MILLION American adults each year.

If you find yourself facing a mental health challenge over the next year, know that you are not alone. Millions of Americans are facing many of these same challenges each year. Let’s take steps to normalize talking about mental health and checking in with one another.

As a working therapist, this specific infographic makes me so sad. The average delay between symptom onset and seeking treatment is 11 years. That means half of people wait longer than that! That is more than a decade of unnecessary suffering.

On top of that, the percentages of adults who are engaged in treatment is so small. Of all adults who would qualify for a mental health diagnosis, only 45% receive treatment? Among kids and adolescents only 51% receive treatment?

These numbers are a picture of an overwhelming and completely unnecessary wave of suffering in America. There are millions and millions of people out there who are struggling, and help is available.

​If you find yourself facing a mental health challenge over the next year, know that help is available. There are people in your community who are trained to help guide you out of this suffering. Your health insurance will pay for it. Reach out and ask for help. You won’t regret it.

Mental health challenges can sneak up on you. Often times, they begin with a typical experience such as the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, or some other change in life circumstances. This can lead to an experience of sadness or anxiety that can, initially at least, be very typical.

But if it persists or grows, it may be time to reach out for some additional support. Initially, reaching out to informal supports such as family, close friends, and religious leaders is likely the best place to start.

If the symptoms persist beyond that initial level of support, it is likely time to seek out a professional. The infographic above will give you a better idea of when professional help might be called for.

Hopefully, this has pulled back the curtain on mental health challenges a bit. None of us are alone when it comes to experiencing mental health challenges.

If you are struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your family and friends. If you aren’t comfortable with that, then seek out a counselor for yourself. If you’re looking for one and feeling overwhelmed by the choice, reach out to me and I’d be happy to help!

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