Think you’re alone? That no one else is struggling with their mental health? Think again. New research shows that one out of every five Americans reports they suffered from a mental illness in the previous year. That’s 46 million people, y’all. You’re among FORTY SIX MILLION people.
It’s not just you. In fact, SAMHSA, which conducted the study, says women had a greater risk for mental illness than men (23% versus 16.8%).
MedPage Today reports that among the, “… nearly 46 million U.S. adults who reported having had a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder when surveyed in 2010, some 60% didn’t receive any treatment for the condition. The most common reason for not getting mental healthcare was not being able to afford it.”
Reading that is like getting stabbed in the heart. No care? For something as important as mental health? How can this be happening!
It is interesting to note that a much smaller percentage (5%) said their symptoms interfered with living their daily lives. That leads me to wonder how many are suffering moderate to severe clinical depression, anxiety or other issues — the kind that really needs professional treatment — as compared to those that may have mild or situational problems. MedPage today said that among those who had more serious symptoms, 39% were not receiving treatment.
I (and I’m 100% sure that I’m not the only one) used to think people who claimed to have a "mental illness" were just crazy, chose to wallow in their own pity, were lazy or undisciplined, had a bad habit, or…you name it…and that was the real “reason” for their acclaimed “mental illness”.
That is until I had Postpartum Depression–and–wow–now I totally get it!! IT IS REAL…it's horrible…and people [who have never experienced it] don’t understand it at all…and I think it is for this reason that it is so hard to get help and support. I offer my sincere apologies for any ignorant thoughts I ever had about mental illnesses in the past when I was on the other side (before having PPD). I know it is real and it is horrible and it is not [our] fault and [we] deserve help and support.
Sometimes I wish everyone in the world would experience a mental illness, if only for a moment, only so that they can stop being ignorant about it and realize how REAL it is, and that people are truly suffering and need help and support!!! Who knows–maybe I have been BLESSED with Postpartum Depression–so that because of it I could stop being ignorant, and, instead, be able to help and support those in need, now that I am on the other side of that IGNORANT fence!!!!!!!
So, who’s with me??—have we been BLESSED because of our mental illness??? Or would we rather continue being IGNRANT towards those with mental illnesses???
I’m not really sure how much what I’m saying actually relates to this post AT ALL!!!–but it’s just something that popped into my head as I was reading it!!! I hope you don’t mind!!!