Mental health issues include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental illness affects 1 in 5 adults (52.9 million) in the United States. The National Association for the Mentally ill, notes that 160 million Americans live in a mental health provider shortage area. Despite the growing need for mental health services for families, these families are unable to access the help they need.
In addition to not being able to access the help, some families are not being open regarding the help they need. If families are not willing to be open, they will not be able to obtain the help they need. Many times mental health adults find themselves getting involved with stealing or other acts that cause them to be locked up in prison. If the parents were open and found them the help they needed, that may tend to prevent them from getting in trouble.
We were able to find help for our daughter when she was in her teens, but unfortunately, psychiatric help did not do our daughter any good and she was over medicated and had severe side effects. It is best to find help for your son and daughter and follow up on the medications given to them by speaking to your health provider.
Joan M. Blake
Author