9781422275467

IF SOMEONE IS SAD, DOES THAT MEAN THEY ARE DEPRESSED?

One in five adults in the United States suffers from a mental illness. It’s likely that this number is even higher, as a lot of sufferers unfortunately do not seek medical treatment. While treatment is widely available, only 44 percent of Americans see a doctor or therapist for mental health treatment. As time goes on, the stigma attached to seeking treatment for mental health issues continues to dissipate. People who have mental health issues are becoming more comfortable coming forward due to public acceptance of mental illness as a legitimate disease. As more individuals seek help for mental health issues, the need for mental health professionals increases. Since mental illness is so prevalent in the United States today, there are many different opportunities for careers in the field. In order to have a successful career in a mental health profession, it’s important to learn about the different mental illnesses from which people suffer. While it’s impossible to fully understand someone’s personal experience with mental illness, knowing the symptoms typically associated with each type of illness can help provide a basic idea of what the disorder is like. Along with understanding the different types of mental illness, mental health professionals need to have training in how to listen effectively, how to help someone share their feelings and experiences without feeling judged, and how to develop a treatment plan to help an individual work through their mental illness. This can be a tricky question to answer. It’s normal to go through periods of sadness, especially during a difficult life event, such as a breakup, a death in the family, a job loss, etc. Sometimes individuals feel sad for no reason at all. When someone is clinically depressed, it usually lasts longer than typical sadness—more than six weeks. It’s usually accompanied by changes in eating or sleeping habits, a loss of interest in usual activities, and a feeling of hopelessness. If you’re worried that you or a friend might be depressed, it’s a good idea to talk to a school counselor.

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HELPING THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES