Mental Health Guide: Awareness, Importance, Signs and Misconceptions

May is Mental Health Month, a time to focus on the importance of our emotional and mental well-being

Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center are working together to educate communities in Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties about mental health. This article will explore what mental health is, why it’s vital, and look at some mental health statistics affecting our community.

What is Mental Health?

Mental health involves our feelings, how we think, and how we behave. It plays a crucial part in how we handle stress, make decisions, and connect with others. Good mental health helps us lead a happy and healthy life.

Signs of Mental Illness

Figuring out if someone’s behavior is just typical or a sign of mental illness can be tough. There isn’t a simple test that tells you if it’s a mental health issue or just how someone is feeling that day.

However, the Alianza Nacional de Enfermedades Mentales (NAMI) suggests many signs that might suggest a mental health issue in both kids and adults:

• Feeling really worried or scared a lot.
• Feeling very sad.
• Having trouble thinking clearly or learning new things.
• Having really big mood swings, like feeling super happy then suddenly very sad.
• Getting annoyed easily and often.
• Not wanting to hang out with friends or go out.
• Having a hard time understanding or getting along with others.
• Sleeping too much or too little, or feeling very tired all the time.
• Eating a lot more or a lot less than usual.
• Feeling different about how often you want to be close to others.
• Seeing or believing things that aren’t real.
• Not noticing changes in your own feelings or behavior.
• Using alcohol or drugs more than usual.
• Having lots of body aches and pains that don’t go away.
• Thinking about harming yourself.
• Struggling with everyday stuff like taking care of yourself or going to school or work.
• Being very scared of gaining weight or being very focused on how you look.

Kids might show other signs like doing worse in school, feeling very anxious about going to bed or school, being very active, having nightmares often, not listening or following rules, or having lots of temper tantrums.

If you see these signs in yourself or someone else, it might be a good idea to talk to someone like a counselor or doctor. They can help figure out what’s going on and how to feel better.

Mental Health in Our Community

In the counties we serve—Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth—mental health issues like anxiety and depression are common. According to NAMI mental health statistics about 1 in 5 adults deal with mental health challenges every year. Anxiety disorders, which can make people feel extremely worried or scared, are common, but many people do not seek help or get treatment. 

This is true across different age groups, but especially among younger adults. For those between 18 to 25 years old, about 33.7% experience some form of mental illness. This number goes down with age, as 28.1% of adults aged 26 to 49 and 15% of those 50 and older report having mental health issues. 

Major depression is particularly significant, being the second most common mental illness with approximately 8.3% of the adult population experiencing at least one major depressive episode. Other conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) also show considerable rates of occurrence.

Common Mental Health Concerns

Here are some mental health problems that many people face:

• Depression: Feeling very sad for a long time.
• Anxiety Disorders: Feeling extremely worried about everyday things.
• Bipolar Disorder: Experiencing extreme mood swings.
• Schizophrenia: Having difficulty understanding what is real.

Treatments and Help

There are many ways to get help if you or someone you know is facing mental health issues:

• Talking to a Therapist or Counselor: They can help you understand and manage your feelings.
• Medicine: Sometimes, doctors prescribe medicine that can help treat symptoms.
• Support Groups: Meeting other people facing similar challenges can be helpful.

Myths About Mental Health

Common myths about mental health:

• Myth: Only certain types of people have mental health problems.
  • Fact: Anyone can face these issues, no matter their age, where they live, or what they do.
• Myth: Talking about mental health is a sign of weakness.
  • Fact: It’s brave to talk about your feelings and seek help.