We are in the middle of Mental Health Awareness Week, and today is Mental Health Awareness Day. More and more Americans are suffering from mental health issues from anxiety, to depression and more. Our society is filled with so many factors that can contribute to this, such as stress on the job, financial stress, problems within our families, pressure to succeed and so many other issues that affect our daily lives.
Please be clear that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, it is very common and you probably know quite a few people who suffer from the disease. Mental illness involves changes in emotion, thinking or behavior or a combination of all of that, and is a health condition just like diabetes, cancer or any other disease.
It is important to know that at any time, any one of us can be affected by mental illness. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffers from it, and more than half of them do not receive treatment. The purpose of awareness days is to bring global attention to an important conversation and gives us an opportunity to share and speak up about our personal experiences.