|
Mental Illnesses affect almost every family in America - and, by extension, nearly every family in our community. Most people recover from mental illnesses, but unfortunately many families don’t recognize early signs of emotional and behavioral health problems or don’t seek treatment for themselves or their children out of fear of what people may think.
- One in five children is impacted by a mental health disorder.
- Mental disorders represent four of the ten leading causes of disability for persons age 5 and older.
- 1 in 4 adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
- 5%-9% of children in the United States have a serious emotional disturbance.
|
Monterey County’s System of Care:
La Familia Sana - The Healthy Family
A system of care is not a program — it is a philosophy of how care should be delivered. It is an approach to services that recognizes the importance of family, school and community, and seeks to promote the full potential of every child and youth by addressing their physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural and social needs.
For more information please visit our system of care partners, programs and resources listed in the resource center.
There are many things you can do to help fight stigma about mental health in your community. Arm yourself with the facts, then use your knowledge to educate others.
Myth: I can't do anything for a person with mental illness…
Fact: You can do a lot, starting with how you act and speak. You can create an environment that builds on people's strengths and promotes understanding. For example:
- Don't label people with words like "crazy," "wacko" or "loony" or define them by their diagnosis. Instead of saying someone is "a schizophrenic," say he or she "has schizophrenia."
- Respect the rights of people with mental illnesses and don't discriminate against them when it comes to housing, employment, or education.
Myth: Children don't experience mental illnesses. Their actions are just products of bad parenting…
Fact: A report from the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health showed that in any given year five to nine percent of children experience serious emotional disturbances. Just like adult mental illnesses, these are clinically diagnosable health conditions that are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Myth: Children misbehave or fail in school just to get attention…
Fact: Behavior problems can be symptoms of emotional, behavioral, or mental problems, rather than merely attention-seeking devices. These children can succeed in school with appropriate understanding, attention, and mental health services.
Myth: Mental illness is the same as mental retardation…
Fact: These are different conditions. Mental retardation is characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and difficulties with certain daily living skills. In contrast, people with mental illnesses—health conditions that cause changes in a person's thinking, mood, and behavior—have varied intellectual functioning, just like the general population.
Myth: Mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character…
Fact: Mental illnesses are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Social influences, like the loss of a loved one or a job, can also contribute to the development of various mental health problems like depression behavior—have varied intellectual functioning, just like the general population.
Myth: Once people develop mental illnesses, they will never recover…
Fact: Studies show that most people with mental illnesses get better, and many recover completely.
Myth: People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable…
Fact: Actually, the vast majority of people with mental health conditions are no more violent than anyone else. People with mental illnesses are much more likely to be the victims of crime. You probably know someone with a mental illness and don't even realize it.
Source: SAMHSA
|