As a mental health practitioner, I hear many reasons why people do not seek treatment for mental health issues. Common reasons are the negative stigma that is attached to mental illness and the stereotypes related to mental illness in thinking that only “crazy people” need to seek treatment for mental health.
The truth is that mental illness is very common and the majority of people who suffer from mental illness do not seek treatment for their condition. If your mental illness in any way affects your daily living, such as work, school, relationships, etc., it is appropriate to seek help. You can think of mental illness just like any other physical illness. Would you let a physical illness (for example diabetes) continue without seeking treatment? Most likely you would not and so you should think about the treatment of mental illness the same that you would for a physical illness.
Click on the link below and read this article to discover how common mental illness is because I bet it is more common than you think……
https://www.yahoo.com/health/study-finds-1-in-5-americans-lives-with-a-mental-103153362632.html
If you or someone you know is suffering from mental illness, there are a variety of treatment options that are available for you. Here are a few ways to go about finding out what treatment options are available:
- Call 211….it is an information hotline of mental health resources available in your area.
- Call your insurance company. They can provide you with a list of mental health practitioners in your area with varying areas of specialty to help you find a doctor that is a good fit for you.
- Do a Google search. There are many different mental health providers available and you can look at their bios online and decide which mental health provider may be the best for you.