The questions can vary.
“How do I help a family member addicted to alcohol or drugs?”
“My child has behavioral problems in the classroom and at home. What are my options?”
“How do I get help for someone suffering from depression who resists help?”
Thursday offers an opportunity to seek answers.
In celebration of May as Mental Health Month, Community Counseling Services, The Pines & Cady Hill Recovery Center and Baptist Behavioral Health will host a panel discussion May 19 titled “Every Mind Matters: Ask the Doctors.”
The event at the Baptist Hospital-Golden Triangle Outpatient Pavilion at 2520 Fifth St. N. in Columbus begins with a complimentary dinner at 5:15 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 6 p.m. Health professionals will address questions submitted anonymously in writing by audience members.
One in four American adults lives with a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition, said Martha Allen of Community Counseling Services. As many as 50 percent of them never seek or receive help due to stigma, lack of information, cost or lack of health care insurance coverage.
“Our goal for Thursday night is to start changing that equation and help our families, friends and coworkers who may be reluctant to ask for help or don’t know where to find it,” said Allen. “We recognize how essential mental health is to our overall health and well-being, and we know how events and life changes can affect us.”
Many people think that when someone is diagnosed with a mental illness it is the end of the world, Allen continued.
“But truly, a mental illness could be a veteran struggling with the invisible wounds of war, or someone coping with the stress of being a caregiver, divorce or losing a loved one.”
Sometimes people are dealing with depression associated with a chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer or hypertension, she added. Traumatic events like the Boston Marathon bombing or the floods in Texas can take a toll on one’s mental health.
“We want people to know that while mental health and substance use conditions are common, they are extremely treatable and individuals go on to recover and lead full and productive lives.
“With a nation-wide shortage of psychiatrists, we regularly hear about facilities closing or cutting back their services,” she said. “In the Golden Triangle area, we are fortunate to have great access to psychiatrists and superior Behavioral Health Care.”
For more information, contact Allen at 662-328-9225 or email [email protected].
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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