Mental health treatment — therapy, medication, self-care — have made recovery a reality for most people experiencing mental illness. Although taking the first steps can be confusing or difficult, it's important to start exploring options.
The average delay between symptom onset and treatment is 11 Years.
Adults with a mental health diagnosis who received treatment or counseling in the past year: 23% of Asian Adults, 33% of African American Adults, 34% of Hispanic or LatinX Adults, 43% of adults who identify as mixed /multiracial, 49% of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults, 50% of white adults.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020, nearly 46,000 people died by suicide; that's one death every 11 minutes. The new three-digit dialing code is intended to be easier to access and remember than the 1-800-SUICIDE number, according to the 988 messaging website.
Over recent years, mental health has slowly moved out of the shadows. After centuries of being sidelined, our state of mental well-being is gradually receiving more of the attention that it deserves. However, many myths persist.
One of the most common mental health disorders is depression, affecting more people globally in 2017. A more recent study, which concentrates on the United States, concludes that the number of adults experiencing depression has increased during the pandemic.
A mental health diagnosis is not necessarily a “life sentence.” Each individual’s experience with mental illness is different. Some people might experience episodes, between which they return to their version of “normal.” Others may find treatments — medication or talking therapies — that restore balance to their lives.
It is also important to consider that “recovery” means different things to different people. Some might view recovery as a return to exactly how they felt before symptoms began. For others, recovery might be relief from symptoms and a return to a satisfying life, however different it may be.
