Mental Health
For many years, mental health has been a subject that many chose to avoid. It was thought that seeing a psychiatrist meant that you were “crazy” and a good majority, for the most part, chose to avoid seeking treatment as a result.
Luckily, times have changed. Although some people still have this mindset, a good majority now know that seeing a psychiatrist does NOT mean that you are crazy. In fact, many of the negative stereotypes concerning mental health have been shattered.
So what’s the big deal about mental health anyway? Mental health is another dimension of our overall health. If we are not doing well mentally, it can affect other areas of our lives (including our physical health and relationships). We all experience hardships and have our ups and downs in life. Seeking advice and/or treatment from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or any other medical trained professional does NOT make you weak or crazy. In fact, it is a sign of strength when you know your limits and get the help that you need.
What if I’m just dealing with hurt from a breakup, betrayal of a friend, or stress from your family members? You’d be surprised how incidents that we may think of as “little” can quickly add up and overwhelm us. Speaking from experience, you can still seek help for any of these reasons or others not mentioned. Remember, it is a sign of strength to know your limits and seek help when you need it. Despite hitting a bump in the road, but you’ll get through this!
How can I get the help that I need?
There are many ways to get the help that you need (this is not an exhaustive list of all options):
If you are an undergraduate, graduate, or medical student, the good news is that there should be a student health center with mental health services on your campus. The services should be free or at least included in your tuition.
If you are employed, many companies (in California at least) offer FREE Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) where you or your family can see licensed counselors for a wide variety of reasons.
You can also make an appointment with your regular doctor to be seen and/or referred to a counselor, psychiatrist, and/or psychologist.
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 9-1-1 and/or go to your nearest emergency department.
For the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 1-800-273-8255
For information on various substance use disorders, treatment, and how the use of these substances affects family: Rehab Spot
