Fairfield County ADAMH Board
  • HOME
  • About the Board
    • Mission, Values, Vision
    • Meetings >
      • Board Minutes
      • SFY 2015
      • SFY 2016
      • SFY 2017
      • SFY 2018
    • Board Members
    • How to Become an ADAMH Board Member
    • Board Staff
    • The ADAMH Star eNewsletter
    • Public Private Solutions
    • Plans and Goals for Our Community
    • Culture of Quality Certification
  • Services
    • Service Providers and Available Services
    • Online Recovery Supports
    • AA and NA
    • Mental Health Support Groups
    • Family Support Groups
    • Pro Bono Counseling Program
    • Re-Entry Coalition
    • Client Rights and Responsibilities
    • Agency Contract Materials >
      • SFY 2022 Contract Application Materials
  • Our Community
    • Issue 6
    • Upcoming Events >
      • 2021 Friend of ADAMH Awards
      • Mental Health First Aid
    • Past ADAMH Events >
      • 2013 >
        • Join the Voices of Recovery Picnics 2013
      • 2014 >
        • Lancaster Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Trade Show 2014
        • 2014 ADAMH Board Network of Care Annual Dinner
        • 2014 NAMImobile
        • Crisis Intervention Team Training
        • 2014 ADAMH Levy
      • 2015 >
        • 2015 Child Abuse Prevention Month
      • 2016 >
        • 2016 Recovery Conference
        • 2016 ADAMH Network of Care Annual Dinner
        • 2016 Dodgeball
        • 2016 Fairfield County Stand Down Event
      • 2017 >
        • 2017 Annual Dinner
        • Post Recovery Conference Page
      • 2018 >
        • A Community Conversation for Families about Addiction
        • 2018 Annual Dinner
        • Family-to-Family Education Program
        • Post Recovery Conference 2018
      • 2019 >
        • 2019 All-star Celebration Annual Dinner
        • First Responders Week of Appreciation Ceremony & Reception
        • 2019 Fairfield County Stand Down
        • Operation Street Smart
        • Strategic Planning Forum Follow-up
        • Post Recovery Conference 2019
        • The Mystery of Risk Training
        • SBIRT
        • Youth Behavior Survey Results
        • Making Connections for Families
    • Community Partners >
      • The Fairfield County Photography Project
    • Opiate Task Force
    • Working Partners
    • Job Postings
  • Resources
    • Data and Reports >
      • Local Data and Reports >
        • Community Needs Assessment
      • State Data and Reports
      • National/Federal Data and Reports >
        • CESAR Fax
    • Recovery Is Beautiful.
    • Facebook Tool
    • "Hooked" Video
    • News Worthy
    • Topical Information >
      • Addiction
      • Alcohol
      • Anxiety
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Cocaine/Crack Cocaine
      • Depression
      • Domestic Violence Information
      • Gambling Addiction
      • Heroin and Other Opiates
      • Methamphetamine
      • Parenting Effectively
      • Prescription Drugs
      • Psychosis
      • Schizophrenia
      • Seasonal Affective Disorder
      • Sizzurp
      • Suicide
    • Press Releases
    • Weblinks
  • Blog
  • Contact ADAMH

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

5/2/2018

 
This blog was written by Patti Waits, LPC, LICDC-S.
​May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In light of the recent school shootings it is easy to get swept away with the mistaken belief that persons experiencing mental illness are a danger to society.  The fact is, most people with severe and persistent mental illness are in more danger from us then we are of them. The misunderstandings, stigma, and confusion around these brain disorders continues to amaze me, despite all that we know.

Did you know, for example, that Anxiety and Depression are the top two mental illnesses in American Adults? 19.1% for Anxiety and 6.8% for Depression. What are considered the “psychotic” conditions, those in which hallucinations and delusions can occur, are actually in a much smaller percentage. 2.8% for Bipolar Disorder, and 0.45% for Schizophrenia. And rest assured that just because one has Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia does not mean that he or she is more prone to violence then someone without these illnesses.

I am not saying that we don’t need to tend to the mental wellness of our youth, and for that matter, of our adults. I am, however, pointing out, that the actual likelihood that mental illness is the root “cause” of school shootings is like saying that the “root cause of poverty is unemployment.” It is a gross oversimplification of a complex problem. And it does a great disservice to those who struggle with mental illness every day of their lives, and never ever exhibit any inclination toward violence of any kind.
​
My suggestion is that we learn more about Mental Health and Wellness. Knowledge and facts can be powerful problem solvers. The Fairfield County ADAMH Board offers two courses open to anyone in the community, Mental Health First Aid for Adults, and Mental Health First Aid for adults who interact with Youth.  Check out our website for more information: www.fairfieldadam.org.

    Archives

    November 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2017
    September 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    June 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Prevention Works - Treatment is Effective - People Recover

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is believed to be accurate but is not warranted or intended to diagnose or treat any physical, mental, or addiction disorders. Always seek the advice of a physician if you have any health-related questions.