Mental Health Awareness- October Edition

September is a month that makes us think a lot for most of us students. In fact, students of all ages are charging into the school year; summer finally falls, and employees of all sectors are preparing for the 4th quarter of the fiscal year. And since 2008, September has also been suicide awareness month. We have been encouraged to take time to remember those whom we may have lost and to cherish and reach out to our loved ones. Most schools and workplaces have highlighted their resources for those experiencing mental unwellness, as well as expressed their sincere appreciation for their students' hard work and employees' devotion to them. 

October has a few important events regarding mental health, the first week being Mental Illness Awareness Week, and the 10th being National Depression Screening Day. Although most of us have a general knowledge of mental illness, less than half of all Americans have been screened for a mental health disorder (Garcia, 2022). This is especially low for a disease that affects 280 million people globally.

Taking an online test for depression may seem like enough; however, it is often not. To get screened and diagnosed, one must see a psychiatrist or other primary care provider. Most cities have a few psychiatrists certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a governing board that verifies psychiatrists have the highest level of knowledge regarding the medical specialty within them, making a provider accessible to the majority of the public. This is not always the case in other countries with statistically lower income, as appointments tend to be a significant expense. People in these countries also must deal with a different more corrosive stigma regarding mental health which may discourage them from seeking treatment in the first place. However, in-person appointments are often inconvenient, so there are also online options. These options require a patient to have a personal device as well as a strong internet connection.

Some people may have access to these but lack digital literacy barring them from receiving treatment within their reach. This method of receiving treatment may in theory work, but falls short of being equivalent to in-person treatment, as a healthcare provider is unable to observe all factors through video such as complete body language and wellness. Websites such as Brightsight, Talkspace, Sesame, and Zocdoc are highly recommended if one can use a device to have a psychiatrist appointment. Additionally,  It is important to note that psychiatrists will prefer a referral from a general practitioner. The primary goal of Mental Illness Awareness Week and National Depression Screening Day is to end the stigma that mental health disorders are a weight we must all carry silently, and that admitting our struggle, makes us weak. By taking time to encourage people to go through a legitimate screening for depression or other mental disorders, we are not only helping our communities but also our world. Getting diagnosed with depression and other disorders can allow those affected to feel as if they aren't crazy — they just have a disorder, similar to other illnesses and diseases. They can see that this feeling is not just part of being human. Rather, it is a chemical imbalance that can help be rebalanced through different forms of treatment, such as talk therapy and different antidepressants.

Works Cited

“5 Best Online Psychiatrist Services in 2024.” HelpGuide.org, 3 September 2024, https://www.helpguide.org/handbook/online-therapy/best-online-psychiatrist. Accessed 29 September 2024.

“NAMI Get Involved Awareness Events Suicide Prevention Month.” NAMI, https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/suicide-prevention-month/. Accessed 29 September 2024.

“National Depression Screening Day.” Evolve Treatment Centers, 29 August 2024, https://evolvetreatment.com/blog/national-depression-screening-day/. Accessed 29 September 2024.

Garcia, Maria E. “Equitability of Depression Screening After Implementation of General Adult Screening in Primary Care.” JAMA Network, 18 August 2022, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2795293#:~:text=23%2D25,of%20individuals%20at%20average%20risk. Accessed 6 October 2024.

Vaishnav, Mrugesh et al. “Stigma towards mental illness in Asian nations and low-and-middle-income countries, and comparison with high-income countries: A literature review and practice implications.” Indian journal of psychiatry vol. 65,10 (2023): 995-1011. doi:10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_667_23