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There’s an illness that affects 1 in 5 children in the United States. That’s more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined.
The diagnosis is mental illness. More than 80,000 children in Bexar County face some form of mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. Yet it’s something that’s usually discussed in hushed whispers, if at all. The silence and stigma associated with mental illness present a huge barrier to treatment; it’s among the reasons more than 60 percent of children with a mental disorder will not get the help they need.
Physical illnesses are usually met with support from family and friends. But mental illness is different; friends don’t bring over a casserole when a child is diagnosed or hospitalized with anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a perfect time to bring the topic out in the open. Eradicating stigma starts with understanding mental illness, talking about it and showing support to those impacted by it.
Cherene Allen-Caraco joins us to talk about Mental Health Awareness Month.
Media: Brandpoint
The root cause of mental illness is often found in the genetic make-up and brain chemistry of the child; it’s not a character defect or bad parenting.
The good news is that treatment for children generally works well. Recovery and health are attainable goals. Some disorders can be treated effectively through therapy, medication or both. Others, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, are often more like a chronic illness, requiring lifelong treatment and maintenance.
When children don’t receive proper treatment, the consequences are dire. Children with untreated mental illness are twice as likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. One of two incarcerated juveniles has an undiagnosed mental illness. Half of children with a serious emotional disturbance will drop out of school. Suicide is a major concern.
Mental illness in children affects the entire community, but because of a reluctance to discuss it openly, too many families feel alone and isolated, and too few children get help. Here are three ways you can reverse this:
Get informed: Parents often wonder about what behaviors in children signal a bigger problem. Friends and family wonder what they should say or do to show support. One in Five Minds, an advocacy campaign with a goal of erasing the stigma surrounding mental illness and getting children the treatment they need, helps answer these questions with free resources online at 1in5Minds.org.
One in Five Minds has created two handbooks, one for parents and one for family and friends, available for free at 1in5Minds.org. One in Five Minds also launched a series of online videos, articles and other resources designed for the unique needs of military families.
Talk about it: Mental illness is often referred to as a “silent epidemic.” That’s why simply speaking up is one of the most effective ways to eradicate stigma. Chances are you know a family member or friend struggling with mental illness in a child; ask how they are doing. Listen, even if what they say is difficult to hear. Offer to give them a break, run an errand or bring a meal.
Paint your nails: Show your support by getting a Maynicure, an annual tradition that One in Five Minds leads to show support during Mental Health Awareness Month. Choose two nail colors, then paint one color on four nails and the second color on the fifth nail, representing the 1 in 5 children with mental illness. Then share your Maynicure on social media (#maynicures, @1in5minds.org on Facebook and Twitter) and challenge friends to do the same. Go to www.MAYnicures.org to learn more.
By taking these simple actions, all of us can contribute to eliminating stigma and helping children with mental illness get the help they need.
Fred Hines is the CEO of Clarity Child Guidance Center.
Article source: https://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/commentary/article/May-is-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month-12889062.php