While May is named Mental Health Awareness Month, health conditions do not take time off. In fact, particular times of the year are known for certain problems. For example, seasonal affective disorder occurs most often in the winter months. If you or someone you know is struggling, seek help right away. There are many ways to do this. You can start by contacting your primary care provider (PCP) or doctor. If you do not have one, there are phone hotlines open 24/7. You can find their phone numbers at the end of this article. There are community resources available that will come to you. Do not hesitate to reach out for help!

There are many types of mental health disorders. Here is a snapshot of the most common:

• Anxiety Disorders – about 40 million Americans suffer from frequent periods of fear and apprehension. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) all fall into this category.
• Mood Disorders – affect about 1 in 10 adults. Mood swings are severe and long. The person may feel sad, anxious, and hopeless, and can have low self-esteem or excessive guilt. Examples are major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, and substance-induced disorder.
• Psychotic Disorders – those affected have difficulty in telling what is real and what is imagined. These disorders include schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, a brief psychotic break, and delusions.
• Dementia – is not one single disorder. Dementia describes people whose memory and thinking skills are declining. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80% of dementia cases. Other forms include Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s disease, and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
• Eating Disorders – lead to unhealthy eating habits and can be life-threatening. They are complex mental health disorders and often require the help of both medical and psychological experts. Some you may have heard of are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and pica eating disorder. No one treatment is the most effective.

Depending on the disorder, treatment may be a combination of medication and psychotherapies. In long-lasting cases of depression, brain stimulation may be used. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can used in the treatment of psychosis and eating disorders. Mental health professionals will determine the best approach for the individual.

Article Resource

Davis Behavioral Health

Community Resources

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255; 988 will be available to dial nationwide on 7/16/2022