What is Mental Illness Awareness Week?

by SAMHSA

Mental Illness Awareness Week is an annual, national observance that was created by a Presidential proclamation in 1990 to focus attention on the high incidence of mental illness in America. This year's theme, "Take Action to Change the Nation," reflects the goals and recommendations of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. This annual observance, sponsored by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, provides an opportunity for evoking change in the Nation's mental health service delivery system through grassroots commitment and action. Activities during Mental Illness Awareness Week reach out to the media, schools, libraries, houses of worship, and State capitols.

What is the purpose of the observance?

The purpose of the observance is to educate the public about mental illness and to reduce the stigma that motivates society to discriminate against people with mental illness. As underscored by the U.S. Surgeon General's 1999 landmark report on mental health, the stigma that surrounds mental illness often prevents people from seeking treatment, due to fear of ridicule and rejection. This observance encourages people with mental illness and their families to seek treatment for mental health problems with the same urgency as they seek treatment for physical health problems. It also provides a national platform to educate health care providers and the general public about the stigma and resulting negative consequences that surround mental illness.

What is mental illness?

Mental illness is any diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that interferes with or limits a person's ability to live, work, learn, and participate fully in his or her community. Mental illness includes such disorders as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, and Alzheimer's disease. Mental illness involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way a person feels about him/herself, and the way a person thinks. Mental illness is not a sign of personal weakness or lack of willpower. People with a mental illness cannot simply overcome it and get better on their own.

How many people are affected by mental illness?

The U.S. Surgeon General's report on mental health found that about one in five Americans experiences a mental disorder in the course of a year. As a result, millions of adults and children are disabled by mental illness every year. According to the World Health Organization, mental illness ranks first among illnesses that cause disability in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. Mental illness affects almost every American family. Any parent, sibling, co-worker, or friend can have a mental illness. A mental illness can affect a person from any cultural, racial, or ethnic background. A mental illness can occur at any stage of life, from childhood to old age. No community is unaffected by mental illness; no school or workplace is untouched.

What can be done about mental illness?

Mental illness is treatable, especially when the treatment comes early. For persons of all ages, early detection and treatment can help prevent mental health problems from growing worse. Early intervention and appropriate treatment also can improve outcomes for persons with mental illness. Therefore, it is critical for a person to seek mental health care when he or she needs it. It is equally important for service providers, friends, and family members to be informed about the symptoms of mental illness and the treatment options available.

About the Author

www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services. Includes links to support groups, information resources, events and articles.