50% of Us Will Have a Mental Health Disorder in Our Lifetimes
Mental health-related stigma is stupider than we thought, especially given how many of us might deal with these challenges
As we’re nearing the end of Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to reflect on how mental health issues can affect so many people, not just folks who have mental health conditions. Here are some numbers for you:
1 in 5 people have mental health conditions, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
1 in 2 people will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime, according to Harvard Medical School.
There are so many reasons to care about mental health, but it’s especially imperative given the number of people who struggle with mental health conditions and disorders and the effects it has on our society. I think some folks don’t give mental health much thought because they believe it won’t affect them or their family members.
So that’s why I want to share some examples of mental health disorders/issues that can arise due to life circumstances:
Grief. My mother’s death was made worse due to my mental health condition, but it can profoundly affect anyone. Many people experience serious depression after the loss of a loved one.
A woman I know who recently had a baby and said, “I read your writing and didn’t understand what you meant when you described a panic attack until now.” She experienced postpartum depression and anxiety and went to therapy and took medication for the first time in her life.
Someone I met who shared that they had no mental health problems until they were hit in the head by an object and received a concussion. They began hearing voices after that and later received treatment and support that helped them.
People who’ve experienced domestic violence.
People who’ve experienced sexual assault and/or harassment.
People who’ve experienced significant financial setbacks.
People who experience relationship issues and/or a divorce.
People who experience trauma from war or other stressful experiences. One experience I heard about was a woman who didn’t have any physical injuries from the Boston Marathon bombing, but experienced flashbacks as a result of her experience near the finish line.
People who are diagnosed with, receiving treatment from, and/or recovering from cancer or other physical illnesses. I’ve had people who have dealt with this alone and ended up in my outpatient groups due to the resulting depression.
People who’ve experienced life-altering injuries.
Etc.
The bright side is you’re TOTALLY not alone and there’s often help out there. You can reach out to see a therapist, join a support group, or call a local mental health line, like the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line. You can also call the national 988 line. You don’t have to be in crisis to call them, I called them once when I was having a particularly difficult day and needed to talk to someone.
Love y’all. Let’s make mental health awareness a year-round thing. 💚
