Stretching back to 1949, many organizations devoted to mental health adopted the month of May as Mental Health Awareness month. These organizations use May as a focal point for article publication, news segment development, and mental health screening. Now that Mental Health Awareness Month 2019 is here, let’s look at the yearly program’s overall purposes.
Purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month 2019
As with prior year’s programs, Mental Health Awareness Month 2019 will help further a number of purposes. One of the most important purposes it serves is raising overall public awareness of mental health and the price of not paying enough attention to it. The month gives mental health experts and organizations an opportunity to reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions and their mental health treatment. Exposure to facts about mental health conditions and the number of people struggling with those conditions can give people the courage to look for help.
The month gives mental health organizations of all sizes a chance to support all of those suffering in silence with a mental health challenge. It also offers a golden opportunity for these organizations to provide mental health screenings for anyone who wants one.
Join In During Mental Health Awareness Month 2019
The field of mental health is so big that promoting awareness about all of it would create a lot of fractured messaging to the public. Instead, the month gets devoted to a focus theme each year, such as social connections, fitness, and trauma. The theme focuses on the efforts of organizations nationwide.
Responsibility for theme selection falls to Mental Health America. The theme for 2019 is an expansion of 2018’s fitness theme. This year’s areas of interest include spirituality, work-life balance, and animal companionship. MHA prepares a toolkit for organizations that helps keep everyone on message and provides useful features, such as fact sheets, sample press releases, and outreach ideas.
Common Mental Health Conditions
Mental Health Awareness Month aims to draw the public’s attention to the need for mental health treatment for all conditions. There are, however, common mental health challenges that may get more coverage, such as:
- Depression
- Addiction
- Schizoaffective disorders
- Personality disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Co-occurring disorders
If your particular challenge isn’t on the list, don’t feel excluded. The whole point of Mental Health Awareness Month is that any mental health challenge is important and you can find help for it.
Mental Health and Addiction
Many people find themselves beset by both a mental health condition and substance use disorder. Unfortunately, mental health challenges often create addiction as people try to manage the symptoms of their mental health condition. In fact, this pairing of mental health struggles and substance abuse has a name: co-occurring disorders.
The standard treatment approach for co-occurring disorders is called dual diagnosis. Overall, it happens at rehab centers alongside other drug and alcohol rehab services. Most people prefer treatment close to home, so someone in Tampa would look for a dual diagnosis treatment center in Tampa, FL.
For example, dual diagnosis treatments often include:
- Individual therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Family services
Your individual situation will guide the precise treatments you receive.
BoardPrep Recovery Center®
BoardPrep Recovery Center® runs a number of addiction treatment programs. Specifically among those programs is a dual diagnosis program for those struggling with a mental health condition and substance abuse. BoardPrep is located in Tampa, FL.
If Mental Health Awareness Month 2019 makes you recognize a mental health-related substance abuse problem in yourself or a loved one, don’t give up hope. Help from a dual diagnosis program can help you manage your mental health condition and overcome your addiction. Contact BoardPrep Recovery Center® at 8667964720 to learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment program.
