The world of mental health is ever-changing and since we are constantly absorbing new information, we tend to overlook some of the important issues. The stigma around mental health treatment has a lot more of a negative impact than people think and will only get worse unless a change is made. While there is a lot that goes into receiving help, it is well worth it. Although we are at an all-time high for proper care and treatment, this does not take away from the fact some people are still being left behind.
For starters, the narrative that receiving help is weak has been pushed onto us as a society for years. For me, it took a year to even think about reaching out because I felt ashamed, but having this mindset only leads to a more intense and unpleasant experience. In all reality, treating your mental health is no different than treating a broken arm. Not only is it treatable, the available treatment is effective. According to a John Hopkins article, a 2007 study conducted at newly opened suicide prevention clinics showed that the suicide attempt rates dropped by 27 percent. In the study, they conducted talk therapy which is one of the multiple forms of treatment that patients can receive.
Another ideology that continues to further press the issue is the concept that your problems are too big or small to be treated. For me, I knew for a long time that something was wrong, but I just blamed it on stress. In actuality, it was a lot deeper and I was convincing myself differently.
Getting help is not something to be ashamed of. 19.2 percent of the American adult population received some form of treatment and of that 19.2 15.8 percent took medication. According to Scientific American in 2013, 1 out of 6 adults take some form of psychiatric medication. It is not abnormal to reach out and receive help especially due to the plethora of resources at your fingertips.
Setting up a therapy or psychiatry appointment can be aided by your general care doctor and can be easier than you think. However, one main thing to remember is that receiving treatment is not entirely on your doctor. Personal accountability of participating not only in something like talk therapy but also in taking your meds is vital. It can take a few tries to find what's right and works best for you, but the trial and error is worth it. I have been on medication for a year and switched around about four times before finding ones that worked. Mental health medication is not an entirely different form of medication, but still has its own set of guidelines.
First off, paying attention to the side effects and potential risks of taking certain medications is the proper way to go about these things. Properly taking these medications follows the guidelines of tracking side effects, consistently taking medication, and recording thoughts and emotions. Some medications do in fact increase the risk of having suicidal thoughts and actions however this does not discredit the medication it simply means its not right for you. There have personally been a lot of instances where I randomly stopped taking my medication for a few days and It led to some severe mental consequences. Getting help is based on a multitude of things including genetic makeup, predisposed conditions, your actual diagnosis, and other health factors.
While navigating the world of mental health it can seem hard, however, you are not alone. It's never too late or too early to step in to get help as services start being offered as early as adolescence and are continued no matter the age. Creating a safe space not only for yourself but others is important as well. If you or anyone you know is struggling and want to reach out there are various ways to get help. For starters, you can contact your general care doctor or even search in your local area for a private therapist or community psychiatrist. However if you want something a little closer to home, there are plentiful resources here at school. If you truly need resources and do not know where to go, your teachers and academic counselors can aid you in your search. Not only they can help, but there are actually school-based therapists run through Community here at school.