More often than not, when I have an anxiety attack it’s the physical symptoms that first alert me to it. My heart feels like it’s pounding out of my chest, it feels difficult to catch a breath, and I have this unnerving feeling that I can do nothing to calm down. For me, my anxiety is very much a physical reality as well as a mental one, which is why our contradictory reactions to mental and physical illnesses as a society are so inconceivable to me.
Depression affects all walks of life. For members of ethnic and racial minority communities, including Asian, Native American, African Americans and Latinos, depression is a significant public health concern. Some of the leading factors contributing to this problem are the many hurdles preventing minorities from seeking treatment. These hurdles can include cultural competency issues, limited access to treatment, and stigma.
There are countless homeless youth enrolled in schools across the country with specific mental health needs who may be at risk. Over 1.1 million homeless children and youth were enrolled in public schools during the 2011-2012 school year alone, a 71 percent increase since 2006-2007. Homeless youth have a greater number of barriers to face in order to succeed academically and socially, both of which can impact their mental health.
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention day, a day devoted to mobilizing global action for suicide prevention through awareness-building and research efforts. Held annually, World Suicide Prevention day serves as a reminder of the lives lost to suicide each year and acts as a motivating force to encourage widespread prevention efforts.
Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
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