SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Cottage Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults in the United States experiences some form of mental illness each year.
The report shows that only half of these people receive appropriate treatment.
But Cottage Health physicians believe there are more mental health services available to the community than ever before.
“I think there’s a lot more attention on mental health right now. Health is the most valuable asset we all have,” said Dr. Paul Erickson, a psychiatrist at Cottage Health.
Erickson is excited about the continuation of mental health services.
“One of the things I want the community to know is that we have an emergency department with mental health physicians who can see people in crisis,” Erickson said.
The hospital’s intensive outpatient program, called COPE, treats mental health substance abuse and dual diagnosis.
“During group therapy sessions, people are evaluated, monitored, and learn different types of skills to help them deal with a variety of symptoms related to mental health,” said Stephanie Molina, a certified marriage and family therapist at Cottage Health. ” he said.
Cope is not a new mental health service, but medical professionals at the hospital want to make sure the community knows about the program.
“This is important because we have so much untreated mental health and mental illness and so many people who are seeking help for addiction and don’t know where to start. “This is a very structured program that will help you navigate through these important issues,” Molina said.
The Cottage Health team wants the community to know about the mental health services available to them.
“My hope is that we can destigmatize mental health and be able to have difficult conversations. And we can support those who need help, have access to services, and ask questions.” Molina said.
Cottage Health physicians believe that most individual and group insurance plans cover the cost of psychiatric and addiction treatment programs.
Private paid plans are available even for those without insurance.
“And I think everyone is becoming more aware of what they can do to take care of themselves when it comes to sleeping well, getting exercise, having good social connections, all these things. “…But there’s also an increasing recognition that we need to do a good job of improving access to mental health services,” Erickson said.
For more information about Cottage Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine services, call 805-569-8339 or visit cottagehealth.org/mentalhealth.
