2010 Mental Health Month; Live Your Life Well-
With increasing economic troubles piled on to the stress of work and family demands, more and more Americans are suffering. In fact, 58 percent of Americans reported struggling in their lives at the end of 2008, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
NATIONAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AWARENESS WEEK
MAY 2 - 8, 2010
Each year more than 17 million Americans will suffer from an anxiety disorder and more than 19 million Americans will suffer with a depressive illness. Often these illnesses manifest with not only emotional symptoms but physical symptoms as well. Individuals often believe the cause of their discomfort and pain is an undiagnosed physical illness. Anxiety and depression can happen to anyone at anytime.
The following are symptoms of anxiety and depression:
Constant uncontrollable worrying
Feeling blue, sad, or hopeless
Sleeping problems, poor concentration
Anxiety attacks, nervousness, or tension
Feelings of intense anxiety in social situations
Loss of pleasure
Phobias
Unexplainable aches, pains, or headaches
Rituals or obsessions
Children's Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental disorders in children are just as real, common and treatable as they are in adults. Left untreated, children's mental health disorders can lead to problems at home, trouble in school and in the community, substance abuse and even suicide. Childhood Depression Awareness Day (CDAD) has offered our partners an opportunity to come together to focus on childhood depression and other disorders.
During the week of May 3-9, wear a green ribbon to draw attention to childhood depression, and use the materials listed on our website to raise awareness about the many mental health problems affecting our nation's children.
Children and Mental Health Fast Facts
Mental health problems affect one in every five young people.
One in every 10 young people age 9 or older, or about 4 million, has a serious emotional disturbance that severely disrupts daily life.
Among children, boys and girls are at equal risk for developing depression.
Children who develop depression often have a family history of the illness, many times a parent who had depression at an early age.
Once a young person experiences a major depression, he or she has a greater risk of developing another depression or mental health problem within the next 5 years.
Untreated mental health problems can lead to suicide, which is the sixth leading cause of death for 5- to 14-year olds.
An estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need.
Mental health problems can - and should - be treated.
Children’s Mental Health Facts: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
In a classroom of 30 children or youth, it is likely that at least two students are affected by ADHD. This surprisingly common condition makes it hard for children and youth to control their behavior (sit still, think before speaking or acting, etc.) and/or to pay attention. If left untreated, it can lead to school or job difficulties, depression, relationship problems, and substance abuse.
What Is ADHD?
There are three types of ADHD: the hyperactive-impulsive type, the inattentive type, and a type that is a combination of both. The severity of ADHD varies among children, even siblings, so no two children will have exactly the same symptoms. Also, you may hear that girls have lower rates and less severe cases of the disorder than boys. More research is needed on this subject, but girls may have lower rates of the hyperactive type.
Signs of the hyperactive and inattentive types are as follows:
Hyperactive-Impulsive
Feeling restless, often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated;
Running, climbing, or getting up in situations where sitting or quiet behavior is expected;
Blurting out answers before hearing the whole question; and
Having difficulty waiting in line or taking turns.
Inattentive
May appear to not be listening or seems easily distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds;
Often failing to pay attention to details, and making careless mistakes;
Rarely following instructions carefully, and often losing or forgetting things like toys, pencils, books, or other tools needed for a task; and
Often skipping from one uncompleted activity to another.
What Are The Warning Signs For Suicide?
Seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK if you or someone you know exhibits any of the following signs:
Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means
Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person
Feeling hopeless
Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities - seemingly without thinking
Feeling trapped - like there's no way out
Increasing alcohol or drug use
Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
Feeling anxious, agitaged, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
Experiencing dramatic mood changes
Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK
If you have any questions on Mental Health Month or would like more information please contact Cheshire Youth and Social Services at 271-6690 or by e-mail at cheshireyouthservices@cheshirect.org
Schizophrenia Awareness
Facts About Schizophrenia
It is estimated that more than 2.1 million Americans now have schizophrenia.
There are more Americans with schizophrenia than there are residents of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming combined.
Schizophrenia can be found in approximately 1% of the world's population, regardless of racial, ethnic or even economic background.
Three-quarters of persons with schizophrenia develop the illness between 16 and 25 years of age.
The disorder tends to "run" in families, but only among blood relatives.
To be diagnosed as having schizophrenia, one must have associated symptoms for at least six months.
Studies have indicated that 25 percent of those having schizophrenia recover completely, 50 percent are improved over a 10-year period, and 25 percent do not improve over time.
Treatment and other economic costs due to schizophrenia are enormous, estimated between $32.5 and $65 billion.
Between one-third and one-half of all homeless adults have schizophrenia.
Fifty percent of people diagnosed with schizophrenia have received no treatment.
