In honor of World Mental Health Day on Monday, October 10, advocates, celebrities, and even royals spoke up to stop the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Perhaps one of the most poignant quotes from the day was from Prince William, who along with Princess Kate and Prince Harry, attended an event hosted by Heads Together, the mental health organization the royal trio helped create.
“Mental health is not a dirty word — we all have mental health like we do physical health, good or ill. But not seeking help at those times when it all seems too much, or we are depressed or anxious, can impact the rest of our lives,” William said. “Put simply, the three of us want to make asking for help no longer a big deal.”
Addiction and Mental Illness: The Connection
Seeking help for a mental illness, including depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, or an eating disorder, is especially important if you also suffer from addiction. Unfortunately, both conditions are often intertwined. Nearly one-third of people with a mental disorder and one-half of people with severe mental illness also struggle with substance use disorder (SUD), according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
There are even several terms for it: co-occurring disorders, dual diagnosis, or co-morbid disorder are all defined as having an addiction(s) and a mental disorder(s).
Some more facts about mental illness:
• You’re not alone. Mental illness impacts roughly one in 17 U.S. adults, interfering with or limiting one or more major life activities, like performing duties at work or in school.
• You can’t overcome it through willpower, not is mental illness a reflection of your character or intelligence.
• Failing to get help can lead to serious health consequences, even death. Sadly, a large percentage of Americans fail to get help for co-occurring disorders — only 7.4 percent receive treatment for both the addiction and the mental illness — and 55.8 percent receiving no treatment at all.
Treating Co-Occurring Disorders
Your best chance of recovery lies in integrated dual-diagnosis treatment that addresses both conditions in one recovery program. Our clinical team at Red Oak understands the challenge of co-occurring mental health disorders and works with you or your loved one to create a personalized treatment plan. To learn more, call 866.457.7426.
