May is Mental Health Awareness Month

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A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling or mood. These conditions may affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day. Each person will have different experiences, even people with the same diagnosis.
Recovery, including meaningful roles in social life, school and work, is possible, especially when you start treatment early and play a strong role in your own recovery.
A mental health condition is not the result of one event. Research suggest multiple, linking causes. Genetics, environment and lifestyle influences whether someone develops a mental health condition. A stressful job or home life makes some people more susceptible, as do traumatic life events like being the victim of a crime.
Mental illness usually begins between the ages 14-24 old. The top two mental health disorders are Anxiety and Depression.
Resources:
National Council for Behavioral Health;
www.TheNationalCounsil.org
NAMI FaithNet National Alliance on Mental Illness;
www.nami.org/faithnet
Illinois Mental Health Collaborative 1-866-359-7953/ TTY: 1-866-880-4459
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 24 hrs. /7days a week
The Warm Line: Peer and Family Support (support to individuals & their families) For Illinois residents. 1-866-359-7953 (select option #2 then option #5) Mon-Fri. 8am-5pm