Hope for Healing: A Portrait of Mental Health in Geauga County
Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
As of 2017, around 40 percent of those suffering from mental illness sought treatment.
The National Alliance for Mental Health reports serious mental illness costs America over $190 billion in lost earnings every year.
Centers for Disease Control figures say mental illnesses, such as depression, are the third most common cause of hospitalization in the United States for those 18-44 years old, and adults living with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than others.
Jim Adams, Chief Executive Officer of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, said levels of depression and anxiety in the county have continued to climb — not just in terms of sheer numbers, but also in degree and severity.
Clinicians have several theories about why that may be, including an increasing willingness to acknowledge emotional struggles and seek help, Adams said.
Social media may also play a part in causing higher levels of anxiety, particularly among children and teens, he said.
Children and teens face other pressures, including family dysfunction due to a parent’s opioid or alcohol addiction, Adams said, adding younger children are less likely to have developed coping skills to face such huge challenges.
With an increase in the number of suicides, Adams said it is imperative everyone is able to recognize the signs and symptoms that can lead a person to contemplate ending his or her life, and seek help immediately.
While these trends paint a stark portrait of mental health in America, technological advancements now allow access to basic mental health treatment and crisis management for anyone within reach of a phone.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – was launched Jan. 1, 2005, as a network of local crisis centers providing free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Geauga County also has its own cope line and crisis specialists can now even be reached by text message.
Mental health treatment is more available than ever before, with several options for inpatient and outpatient services accessible to Geauga County residents.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and every week, the Geauga County Maple Leaf will feature local stories on the impacts of mental illness on the county.
The following are stories of affliction and redemption, of life after profound loss, and of the people on the front lines providing comfort and care.
In our series, we seek an end to the stigma around public discussion of mental illness.
In Geauga County, in 2019, there is hope for healing.
