Education is key to getting help

This week, Oct. 4-10, has been designated by Congress as Mental Illness Awareness Week, to promote public education about serious mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder.

About 60 million Americans experience mental health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious conditions. On average, people with serious mental illness live 25 years less than the rest of the population; one reason being that less than a third of adults and less than half of children with a diagnosed illness receive treatment.

Mental illnesses are medical illnesses; that is the starting point for understanding, as well as treatment and recovery. What can you do to help? The first step is to educate yourself and those around you. Small steps count. Visit our National Alliance on Mental Illness Web site, www.nami.org, and browse information about different diagnoses and courses of treatment. Learn symptoms as warning signs. If you see cause for concern, discuss the symptoms with your doctor. Early identification is often key to recovery.

Treatment works — but only if the a person gets it. If you want to learn or know more contact us at NAMI Snohomish County: 425-339-3620. We’re here to help you or direct you to those who can.


Jim Bloss
President
NAMI Snohomish County