The United States leads the world in understanding the importance of mental health to the overall health and well being of a person. What we are coming to realize now is that mental health is absolutely essential to achieving prosperity. According to the landmark “Global Burden of Disease” study, commissioned by the World Health Organization and the World Bank, among developed nations, including the United States, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability for persons age 5 and older are mental health diagnoses. Mental health related diagnoses are also tragic contributors to mortality, with suicide representing one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States and worldwide.*
We encourage individuals to seek treatment when they find themselves experiencing the signs and symptoms of mental distress. There are effective treatments and service delivery strategies as well as an array of safe and effective medications and psychosocial interventions, typically used in combination, which allow us to effectively treat most mental health issues. Mental health related issues are just as real as visible physical issues. Often lack of awareness results in lost opportunities for individuals to seek treatment and improve or recover.