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How to get involved in spreading awareness about mental health

In the United States, approximately one in five or nearly 43.8 million adults struggle with a mental health disorder in a given year. Further, one in 25 adults struggles with a serious mental illness. The stigma attached to mental health prevents people from talking about their troubles and seeking help from family or psychologists. As a result, it diminishes their chance of recovering and leading a happier and healthier life. An untreated mental illness can pave the way for debilitating psychological issues, addiction and even suicide. It is important that more and more people talk about mental health so that the sufferers can reach out for support and recover.

Given below are some of the ways by which one can spread awareness and make an impact:

  1. Learn and unlearn: Before doing anything else, it is important to read about mental health, types of disorders and their impact on an individual, family and There are a good number of online and offline resources that one can access to gain knowledge. Learning allows a person to discard all the misleading information and replace it with facts. This way they can be more open-minded and acceptable to what others feel.
  1. Start a discussion: Since it is a taboo subject, people feel uncomfortable talking about mental illnesses. Those desirous of bringing a change should take the initiative of fostering healthy discussions around it and encouraging the affected population to face the world. The discussion could be on a personal level or social, depending upon the need.
  1. Send care packages: No one chooses to fall mentally ill. It happens due to some reason and can affect anyone. It could be a family member, friend, classmate, colleague, travel mate or anyone else. One of the ways of comforting the afflicted people is by gifting them care packages, comprising calming tea packets, nutritious food items, coloring books, meditation CD, yoga mat or anything that could turn sad faces into happy ones.
  1. Go social – Social media is extremely powerful. The online platforms can be used for initiating discussions around mental health, reaching out to someone in need of support and connecting them to the right resources.
  1. Arrange a community fund-raising event: One can arrange a community fund-raising program to support someone with a mental illness or by collecting funds for an NGO that works in this direction. During their events, one can spread awareness by screening a documentary on mental illnesses or arranging a lecture by a psychiatrist or a mental health specialist. This would help boost the confidence of more people to come forward and get support.
  1. Share own story: If someone struggles with a mental illness and takes therapy for the same, one can share his or her journey with people at work, club, school or college. This will empower those who struggle with a mental illness but find it hard to come out in open and take help. This can reassure them that they are not alone.

Take action and leave impact

Untreated mental health disorders can progress into more severe conditions that can interfere with daily routine. A person may think of diluting his/her worries in alcohol or drugs, which can undoubtedly numb the feelings for a while, but begin to leave a long-lasting impact on the brain. A user may eventually become drug tolerant and develop dependence or addiction. For those whose primary problem is substance abuse can become a victim of mental disorders like depression or social anxiety. When an individual struggles with both a mental illness and an addiction, he or she is said to be suffering from co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis. It is essential to treat both the conditions simultaneously to bring changes at the grassroots level.

Sovereign Health, one of the leading dual diagnosis treatment centers in Texas, offers evidence-based treatment to people afflicted with co-occurring disorders. Our dual diagnosis rehab in Texas provides state-of-the-art care to patients for quick recovery after a thorough diagnostic assessment. You can call our 24/7 helpline 866-399-5740 or chat online with an expert to know more about our treatment modalities.

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