Invisible Battles: Shedding Light on Mental Health Issues

Introduction

Talking about mental health issues is more important than ever, but it's not always easy. Because of that, we've found the best way to approach this can be by starting a conversation with what might appear to be an off-topic question: How many people do you know who have experienced mental health problems? Most Americans say they know someone who has been through some sort of mental health issue, whether it was depression or anxiety, or another problem affecting their emotional well-being. However, this doesn't mean everyone is comfortable talking about these issues. Many people don't feel equipped to handle them or even understand them well enough to offer help when needed—which means those suffering from these conditions may suffer even longer than they would otherwise because they aren't getting the help they deserve. Luckily there are things we can do as individuals and as communities that will help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues while also providing support for those affected by them

A majority of Americans say they know someone who has experienced a mental health issue.

You may have heard the statistic that 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental health issue each year, but it's hard to comprehend the actual scope of this problem. Many people don't know what it means or how to help someone who has a mental illness.

The good news is that this is starting to change: A majority of Americans say they know someone who has experienced a mental health issue--and more than three-quarters say they would reach out if they suspected one of their loved ones was struggling with depression or anxiety (source). That's promising! But there's still room for improvement when it comes to understanding how we can best support ourselves and each other during difficult times.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in young people ages 15 to 24.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in young people ages 15 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This can be hard to believe when you're looking at your own life. You might think that suicide would be more likely among older people, who have more problems or responsibilities than teens do. But it turns out that there are several reasons why this age group faces an increased risk:

• They're still figuring out who they are as individuals and what their place in the world will be--and that includes figuring out where exactly depression fits into their lives.
• Teens may not have enough experience dealing with negative emotions yet; when they feel depressed or anxious about something, they may not know how best to express those feelings so that someone else can help them through them (or even just listen). Instead of talking about how sad or scared we feel sometimes--and asking others for support along the way--we often resort instead towards unhealthy coping mechanisms like drinking alcohol excessively or using drugs recklessly because we don't want anyone else to know how badly off track things are inside our heads right now."

Mental health issues are more common among women than men.

Women are more likely to experience depression, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders.

Women are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than men.

More than half of people with mental health disorders have no insurance coverage for treatment.

The fact that most people with mental health disorders can't get insurance coverage for treatment is a huge problem. It's also not surprising, given that many insurance companies don't cover mental health disorders at all. And even if they do, they often charge more for it than they would for other types of care.

This means that many people who need help aren't able to access it--and those who can get treatment may find themselves paying more than they can afford on their own. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this has started changing: Under ACA provisions, insurers must cover essential benefits like prescription drugs and hospital visits; under another provision called parity laws, insurers must also cover mental health services at equal rates as physical health services without charging higher co-pays or deductibles when you visit doctors' offices or hospitals for these services.*

Only half of children and adolescents with behavioral or emotional disorders receive services from their school system, a community program, or other agency.

Only half of children and adolescents with behavioral or emotional disorders receive services from their school system, a community program, or another agency. These services can include medication, counseling, and therapy.

Services may be provided by a family member (such as a parent), mental health professional (such as a psychiatrist), or school staff member.

About one-third of people with mental illness can work full or part-time, while two-thirds cannot hold jobs because of their conditions.

• Mental illness is a common but often misunderstood condition. It affects about one in four people at some point in their lives.
• People with mental health problems are less likely to be employed and more likely to be unemployed than those without mental ill-health (7).
• Those with severe mental illness are more likely to experience long-term unemployment than other groups (8).
• Those with severe mental illness have lower rates of employment in high-status occupations than those who have milder forms of the disorder (9).

It is important to talk about these problems so we can help those suffering from them get help and support

You are not alone. It is important to talk about these problems so we can help those suffering from them get help and support. Don't be afraid to talk about it, don't be afraid to seek help, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. By getting the word out there and raising awareness of mental health issues in our community, we can make a difference in how people view these invisible battles and hopefully decrease the stigma surrounding them.

Conclusion

In the end, we hope that this article has helped you become more aware of the issues surrounding mental health. We all must start talking about these problems so we can help those suffering from them get help and support. If you know someone who is struggling with their mental health or knows someone who does - please reach out!