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Know How to Help Someone in a Crisis
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About 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. These are our friends, family members, and loved ones who may be experiencing symptoms of mental health issues that aren’t obvious or visible. Keep resources on hand, learn how to recognize the signs, and know where you would go for help if someone you care about were to experience a crisis. Here are a few resources we’ve developed you can keep on hand.
-When I learned that 1 in 5 people experienced mental health issues it opened my eyes and helped me realize that many people are experiencing the same symptoms that I once experienced. It may sound selfish but I was happy to see that there are other people out there who I can relate to.
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Share Your Experiences
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Whether it’s a story about treatment or how your life is impacted by a mental health issue, sharing your experiences can be powerful for you and others. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage readers to consider sharing their stories with us (click the corresponding link below for more info), sharing with someone they trust, or sharing with a licensed therapist if their experiences are causing distress.
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-My father is someone who has struggled with depression his entire adult life once told me that talking to others about his depression and experiences helped him get through his darkest moments in life.
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Understand the Power of Language and How It Can Contribute to Stigma
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Stigma toward mental health issues and treatment often stems from the way we come to understand concepts through pop culture and influential others. Many commonly used phrases and idioms can contribute to misunderstanding and a reluctance to seek treatment for fear of being perceived as “weak” or “crazy.” Help challenge the stigma in your corner of the world by spending some time thinking and reading about how words and experiences may feel from a different perspective.
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-My father did not want to accept the help that was offered to him about 10 years ago because he didn’t want anyone to think he was crazy. He didn’t want to be turned down for employment if word got out about his diagnoses.
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Take Care of Yourself
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One of the best ways we can contribute to improved mental health, better relationships, and healthier communities is to make sure we are managing ourselves and meeting our own needs. For people who tend to help others first, this can be feel selfish and difficult. However, it may be helpful to apply the same concept in which airline crews tell you to don your own oxygen mask before assisting others. Contact a mental health professional or treatment center if you need help with this.
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-I can completely relate to this statement. I am my families rock, even though at times it’s hard for me to take in everyone’s problems and try to help them out the best I can. I have a hard time saying NO. I know I should take better care of myself and my needs but it’s really hard for me. I ended up with a mental breakdown a couple of years back because of stress.
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References:
Staff, G. (2017, April 28). 5 Ways You Can Support Mental Health Awareness Month 2017.
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Here are five statements about my mental health research
It’s been 5 years since I last saw my father, at this time I’m 14 years-old. It’s Monday morning and I’m on my way to school with my best friend Sandra. We decided to stop at a Starbucks on the way to school. As we were waiting for our order, I look out the window and noticed a semi-intoxicated homeless man sitting on the sidewalk staring into the sky… Something drew me to him, I didn’t know what it was then. I felt a weird feeling in my stomach, the one where your stomach flips upside down and you feel nauseous.
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As we walked out of Starbucks, I asked my friend to walk across the street and down the street where the homeless man was sitting. As I got closer the man decided to get up and walk away. We caught up and when I looked over at him we locked eyes. I then realized who he was he was my father. I was in shock, my friend asked if I was afraid of him or if I knew who he was. I was embarrassed, I told her no I didn’t know him at all. A part of me felt like I was not lying, he was not the man I remembered. My father didn’t want to receive help for his depression and schizophrenia. I watched as my mom tried to get him help, every time we got him to admit himself into a facility he checked out within 3 days. He was not mean or a threat he was just struggling with an illness the best he could without medication.
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Mental Illness is a disease, many people refuse to treat it because they’re afraid of judgement. Many people self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Statistics show an estimated 43.6 million (18.1%) Americans ages 18 and up experienced some form of mental illness. In the past year, 20.2 million adults (8.4%) had a substance use disorder. Of these, 7.9 million people had both a mental disorder and substance use disorder, also known as co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. I miss my father dearly, I have faith that one day he will get the help he needs and become a part of my life once again. For now, I watch from a distance and wait.
Work Citation
SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017, August 21).