Have you taken a Mental Health Day lately?

May is mental health awareness month — 60% of adults in the U.S. still do not seek treatment for their mental illnesses. What exactly is mental illness and why is there so much stigma associated? Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior (Mayo Clinic). So why is seeking treatment for physical health conditions, like having a cold or broken bone, much more accepted than the stigma associated with treating mental illness?

Unfortunately, the media tends to highlight people who have very serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia for example. A person struggling with this mental illness can be seen talking to themselves or invisible people. Only 1% of U.S. adults are affected by schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders (18% of U.S. adults) and depression (6.7%) are more prevalent (PSYCOM). Yet it is the serious disorders that the media focus on that contribute to the stigma surrounding mental illness and seeking treatment. In fact, research suggests that the majority of people hold negative attitudes and stereotypes towards people with mental illness (Psychology Today).

While I am a licensed therapist working in this field, I too find myself affected by the stigma. Recently I was feeling tired and run down, and I decided to take a day off work. We all have days when it is harder to get out of bed because we feel overwhelmed by life. In clinical terms that overwhelm can be anxiety and/or depression. I called it a sick day rather than a mental health day, and many of my staff emailed me to wish me a speedy recovery. What kept me from calling it a mental health day? Like many people, I am also influenced by a culture where we feel compassion for physically ill people, yet treat mental illness with judgement.

Having grown up with two half-brothers who struggled with mental illness, I was influenced to enter the field of psychotherapy. As a young person, I became very comfortable sitting in waiting rooms and visiting psychiatric hospitals with my parents to see my brothers. I was curious about their conditions and symptoms. My brothers learned coping skills and sought treatment with the help of professionals, and support of my family. Not all people have a support network.

“One in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year. Only 41% of adults with a mental health condition received mental health services in the past year. Stigma is toxic to their mental health because it creates an environment of shame, fear and silence that prevents many people from seeking help and treatment. The perception of mental illness won’t change unless we act to change it.” (National Alliance on Mental Health).

Let’s come together and help reduce the stigma to support those struggling with mental illnesses. We all want to be accepted and understood, and this is no different for those struggling with their mental health. They already feel different and tend to isolate. I encourage you to take time to support someone who you know is struggling with their mental health. You'll feel better for having made the effort, and so can they.

Norman Hering, LMFT, Director of Mental Health Programs, North Marin Community Services. To learn more about their affordable $30/session mental health counseling, visit www.northmarincs.org. For an immediate mental health crisis, please call Psychiatric Emergency (415) 499-6666.