Elizabeth Vucci (submitted photo)
Written by Elizabeth Vucci
guest column
One in five adults in the United States experiences a mental illness each year. Locally, in Macomb County, from 2018 to 2020, 15.3 percent of adults 18 and older reported good or poor mental health in the past 30 days, indicating that mental health issues are It proves something. It exists right in our backyard. However, many people suffering continue to face deep-seated stigma, misinformation and, in some cases, guilt and shame.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, dedicated to educating communities about the impact and prevalence of mental illness and reducing stigma so people feel empowered and feel safe getting the help they deserve. Education and open discussion are essential to this end.
With so much information at our fingertips these days, it is not uncommon to self-diagnose and generalize various mental illnesses. According to Tebra’s research, one in four people were diagnosed with a mental illness based on social media information, and only 43% of them were followed up with a medical professional. First and foremost, when discussing mental health, if you think you are experiencing mental health symptoms, it is safest to consult a professional and receive a formal diagnosis. Both from a medical perspective and from a purely factual perspective to disseminate only accurate information.
According to USA Today, the most common mental illnesses in the United States, in order, are anxiety disorders (affecting 19.1 percent of adults), major depressive episodes (8.3 percent), and post-traumatic stress disorder (3.6 percent). (note that it can be caused by any traumatic event or situation), bipolar disorder (2.8 percent), borderline personality disorder (1.4 percent), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (1.2 percent).
During Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, it’s important to remember that mental illness is a spectrum. Mental illness cannot be dismissed with definite symptoms or behaviors. For example, just because you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) doesn’t necessarily mean you like to keep your space neat and tidy. People with OCD often have debilitating obsessions and compulsions that can interfere with daily life. Proclaiming that you have a particular mental illness when that may not be the case can be extremely harmful.
The same thought process applies to depression and anxiety. Not everyone who experiences depression falls into the typical types we associate with it (holding back, staying at home, etc.). Many people with depression may be just the opposite, reinforcing the idea that we cannot assume we understand mental illness based solely on preconceptions. How to think about symptoms, as symptoms appear completely differently depending on the person.
Regardless of what we think we know about mental health and wellbeing, it’s important to keep an open mind. Not only do the symptoms differ, but so does the severity of those symptoms. For example, some people who suffer from social anxiety may be able to attend crowded sporting events, while others may not.
Mental Health Awareness Month may be over in just a few weeks, but our advocacy and support efforts shouldn’t end there.
One of the biggest ways we can support the mental health community is by educating ourselves without assumptions or generalizations, and by continuing to have critical and transparent conversations about mental health with our friends and family. Mental health is a very sensitive issue and many people need to hear the message that they are not alone and that there are ways to seek out resources and get help.
If you need support and services, look no further. Macomb County Community Mental Health (MCCMH) offers walk-in clinics Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3pm at our eastern and northern locations. Individuals can also contact our crisis line 24/7 at 586-307-9100. It’s okay to reach out and ask for help. We’re here to listen.
Elizabeth Vutci is director of community and behavioral health services for Macomb County Community Mental Health.
