By April Knight

Mental illness affects people of all ages, races, religions, and incomes. One in four adults in the United States has mental illness. Only one third go for treatment.

It’s time for a discussion about mental illness.

Over the next three weeks, this space will contain information about mental illness leading up to the SAFE (Support and Family Education) Program, an eight-week educational and support group program developed for families and others who care about someone living with mental illness.

First, the facts. What exactly is mental illness?

• Mental illnesses are medical disorders

• They profoundly disrupt a person’s thinking, feelings, moods, ability to relate to others, and capacity for coping with the demands of life

• Mental illnesses are neurobiologically based brain disorders

• Mental illnesses are highly treatable

What mental illness is not:

• Anyone’s fault

• Related to ones character or intelligence

• Caused by parents

• Demonic possession

• Caused by insufficient faith

• People with mental illness cannot just “snap out of it”

There are several reasons why those with mental illness do not seek treatment. These include stigma, fear, guilt feelings, and lack of knowledge about resources.

According to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the impact of mental illness is high on society:

• Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease

• Serious mental illness costs the United States $193.2 billion in lost earning every year

• Ninety percent of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.

The good news is that treatment for mental illness is effective. Between 70 and 90 percent of those who go through treatment have significant improvement. Advances are being made in research on causes of mental illness.

APRIL KNIGHT is a qualified mental health professional who worked with the mentally ill for the past 17 years in various roles, including as the executive director and founding member of the Western Tidewater Free Clinic. She can be reached at aknight@childrenscenterva.com or at 562-6806.

 

Editor’s note: The Children’s Center, with a grant from the Obici Healthcare Foundation, is sponsoring the SAFE (Support and Family Education) Program, an eight-week educational and support group program developed for families and others who care about someone living with mental illness. The program will run on Tuesday evenings beginning March 3. To register, e-mail April Knight at aknight@childrenscenterva.com or call her at 562-6806.