Every May, annually, is Mental Health Awareness Month. Every year, millions of Americans are impacted by mental illness and live each day with a mental health condition. Since 1949, the month of May has been both an observation of Mental Health Awareness Month, as well as a celebration of the millions of Americans that live with or have overcome a mental health disorder.
Mental Health Awareness Month is a month where numerous organizations, companies, health systems, communities, and individuals come together to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness, create educational initiatives and campaigns, advocate for policies to best help those suffering from mental health disorders, provide support for those dealing with mental health issues, and bring awareness regarding mental health to the general public. Throughout communities across the country, different initiative and campaigns are designed to demonstrate mental health conditions as public health issues and normalize the issues of mental health faced by millions of Americans each year.
One of the leading organizations regarding mental health in America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), has created 2022 Mental Health Awareness Month campaign “Together for Mental Health.” NAMI is looking to amplify that 2022 message to bring together different voices that can advocate for mental health and access to care. Another leading organization on mental health in the country, Mental Health America (MHA), has created the 2022 theme for Mental Health Awareness Month, “Back to Basics.” This initiative has a goal to provide foundational knowledge about mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions, and information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern.
Over the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more Americans have suffering from mental health concerns. The isolation, fear, and unknown in the early days of COVID-19 have seemingly brought on numerous mental health concerns for many Americans. Since 2020, the rates of anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide of Americans have risen exponentially. Additionally, rates of addiction and substance use disorder, as well as both fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses, continue to rise to record numbers.
It is time in this country that all Americans begin to take their mental health as seriously as they take their physical health. It is also time that communities and medical professionals begin to view mental health as important as any other medical condition. The more the country can go towards breaking the stigma of mental health, the more individuals suffering from mental health will reach out for help without shame, and the more access to care they will find to receive support, treatment, and ultimately find recovery.
Here at Maryland Addiction Recovery Center, we have seen that the majority of MARC patients not only suffer from addiction or substance use disorder, but also have at least one, if not multiple, co-occurring mental health disorders. Therefore, we have found it necessary in order to provide a high quality of care, to have a staff with expertise in both addiction and mental health, as well as robust psychiatric help available to all patients. When a patient can have both their addiction and mental health issues treated concurrently, the better their chance at long-term, sustainable recovery and finding a high quality of life.
If you or someone you know needs help for addiction or co-occurring disorder issues, please give us a call. Maryland Addiction Recovery Center offers the most comprehensive dual diagnosis addiction treatment in the Mid-Atlantic area. If we aren’t the best fit for you or your loved one, we will take the necessary time to work with you to find a treatment center or provider that better fits your needs. Please give us a call at (410) 773-0500 or email our team at info@marylandaddictionrecovery.com. For more information on all of our drug addiction, alcohol addiction and co-occurring disorder services and recovery resources, please visit our web site at www.marylandaddictionrecovery.com.