"QCI saved my life. I was having to pay a lot of of my money to see a doctor. I was told about QCI and filled out the paper work, not thinking I would hear back. QCI gave me a doctor, therapist, nurse, [and] community support. They really helped me when I was really sick and needed that. Now I am better and don’t need that [level of service]. I was helped to get Metro Access and now I can go get to my appointments on my own. I’ve been lucky to have met my therapist, Allison. She is really into the job. She helped me get my immigration card for free. We work together really well." -- MS
Suicide prevention: Risk factors, warning signs to look out for
Recommended Reading:
Balance Boldly
by Sharon J Lawrence (Author), Dr. Vicki T. Sapp (Foreword)
Live A Balanced & Bold Life
Desiring to live a balanced life and completing tasks to get to a place where your life is balanced are two different things. Life is filled with ups and downs, responsibilities and extensive to-do lists that keep us from taking better care of ourselves and having better relationships overall. Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Life Coach Sharon J. Lawrence, will assist you in working towards living a balanced and bold life by teaching you to improve relationships, self-care and set boundaries. She will assist you with learning to focus more on yourself so that you can prioritize you and your relationships better. It’s Time to Focus!
Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental illnesses affect 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children each year. People struggling with their mental health may be in your family, live next door, teach your children, work in the next cubicle or sit in the same church pew.
However, only half of those affected receive treatment, often because of the stigma attached to mental health. Untreated, mental illness can contribute to higher medical expenses, poorer performance at school and work, fewer employment opportunities and increased risk of suicide.
What Exactly is a Mental Illness
A mental illness is a physical illness of the brain that causes disturbances in thinking, behavior, energy or emotion that make it difficult to cope with the ordinary demands of life. Research is starting to uncover the complicated causes of these diseases which can include genetics, brain chemistry, brain structure, experiencing trauma and/or having another medical condition, like heart disease.
The two most common mental health conditions are:
Anxiety Disorders
More than 19% of adults each year struggle with some type of anxiety disorder, including: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (panic attacks), generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobias.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar depression, affect nearly 10% of adults each year and are characterized by difficulties in regulating one’s mood.
What You Can Do to Help
Although the general perception of mental illness has improved over the past decades, studies show that stigma against mental illness is still powerful, largely due to media stereotypes and lack of education, and that people tend to attach negative stigmas to mental health conditions at a far higher rate than to other diseases and disabilities, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease.
Stigma affects not only the number seeking treatment, but also the number of resources available for proper treatment. Stigma and misinformation can feel like overwhelming obstacles for someone who is struggling with a mental health condition. Here a few powerful things you can do to help:
Showing individuals respect and acceptance removes a significant barrier to successfully coping with their illness. Having people see you as an individual and not as your illness can make the biggest difference for someone who is struggling with their mental health.
Advocating within our circles of influence helps ensure these individuals have the same rights and opportunities as other members of your church, school and community.
Learning more about mental health allows us to provide helpful support to those affected in our families and communities.
Resources
Great sources for mental health news and information include:
Credit: Pinerest.org
If you are experiencing a mental health medical emergency, all 911 or go immediately to the closest emergency room.
CARF International, a group of companies that includes CARF Canada and CARF Europe, is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Toll free (888) 281-6531. www.carf.org
QCI provides services for English speaking patients at this time. QCI will attempt to direct non-English speaking individuals to appropriate resources to the best of our ability.
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