EDITORIAL: Bringing mental illness in focus

May 05--May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time set aside to bring issue of mental illness to the forefront of our nation's thoughts.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 45.9 million adults age 18 or older in the United States -- 20 percent of all adults in the nation -- had a mental illness in the past year. Yet many don't receive the help they need because of the stigma associated with mental health issues.

But not seeking professional help can have far-reaching consequences.

Research has shown that excessive anxiety and stress can contribute to physical problems, such as ulcers, colitis and heart disease, and can also reduce the strength of the immune system, making people more vulnerable to conditions ranging from the common cold to cancer.

Signs and symptoms of mental illness can vary, and sometimes symptoms can manifest in physical problems, such as stomach pain, back pain, headache or other unexplained aches and pains.

Not all depressions are alike, but regardless of the diagnosis, treatment is paramount -- and it's not only adults who are affected.

A large, national survey of adolescent mental health revealed that approximately 8 percent of teens ages 13-18 have an anxiety disorder, with symptoms commonly emerging around age 6 -- but only 18 percent received mental health care, often with devastating consequences.

In the U.S., suicide is the 11th leading cause of death overall, and the third-leading cause of death among those 15 to 24 years old.

It doesn't have to be that way. Hill Country MHDD Centers, New Hope Counseling Center and Hill Country CARES -- which counsels victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety disorders free of charge -- are among local resources that stand ready to help people struggling with understanding the anxiety in their lives, the bouts of depression and the agony that comes with a life in turmoil because of mental illness.

If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to the resources at hand. Doing so could not only improve a life, it could save a life. Doing so is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength.

To reach Hill Country MHDD Centers, call 792-3300 or visit www.hillcountry.org.

To reach New Hope Counseling Center, call 257-3009 or visit www.newhopecounselingtx.org.To reach Hill Country CARES, call 257-2400 or visit http://hccares.com.

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