Each year, millions of Americans suffer from mental health disorders, but often don’t get the care and support they need.
That’s why the premier mental health and addiction treatment facility, Awakenings Treatment Center, joins organizations and advocates from across the country to mark National Mental Illness Awareness Week during the first week of October. The goal of the week is to raise awareness about mental health issues, fight the stigma associated with mental illness, and encourage those in need to seek help.
Standing with the Mental Health Community
Established by Congress in 1990, Mental Illness Awareness Week brings together mental health advocates nationwide to sponsor activities that educate the public about mental illness. The 2021 theme, “Together for Mental Health,” focused on advocating for better care for people with serious mental illness. As part of the event, Awakenings Treatment Center will promote facts about mental illness and personal stories from people with lived experiences on the facility’s social media pages.
“We stand with our colleagues in the mental health treatment community to call for greater priority of mental health support and resources for people in crisis,” said Dr. Shari Corbitt, founder of Awakenings Treatment Center. “Mental health is vital to people’s overall health, but too often it is not given the importance and attention it deserves.”
1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental health issues. These include major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet less than two-thirds of these adults get treatment. This puts them at increased risk for substance abuse disorder, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic health conditions. People with untreated mental illness are also more likely to seek emergency medical care. These people are also disproportionately represented among homeless and criminal justice populations.
Traditional and Holistic Mental Health Treatment
Mental health treatment, including therapy, medications, and self-care, can make recovery a reality for most people experiencing mental illness. At Awakenings Treatment Center, clients receive traditional and holistic services tailored to their individual needs. Treatment includes alternative therapies, such as breath-work, meditation, as well as mindfulness. Full recovery takes time, and often feels difficult in the beginning, said Corbitt. But the end results are life-changing.
“Effective treatments exist for all kinds of mental health and addiction challenges. It is truly possible for people to overcome mental health disorders and live healthy, happy, and productive lives,” Corbitt said. “We need more understanding among the public about the signs of mental illness. Everyone needs access to treatments that can help them. That’s why we wholeheartedly support Mental Illness Awareness Week.”
–Awakenings Treatment Center is located at 28632 Roadside Drive, Suite 210, in Agoura Hills. For information on admissions, call 855-717-3268 or visit awakeningstreatment.com/admissions.
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