MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK, OCT. 4-10

Did you know that mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease?

Or that one out of every five families will be directly affected by a severe mental illness?

The most shocking news about mental illnesses is how little people know about them. And the good news is that mental illnesses are treatable, and most individuals suffering from such disorders can lead satisfying, productive lives. Science has proven that mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder are disorders of the brain. And, thanks to breakthrough therapies, most people diagnosed with a mental illness have higher treatment success rates than those with other chronic physical conditions. But only if they have access to the right treatment.

Community Counseling Center is proud to have been providing mental health treatment and services to our community since 1974. This has been a year of expansion for Community Counseling Center. In addition to its offices in Cape Girardeau, Perryville and Ste. Genevieve, CCC now operates full-time offices in Marble Hill and Fredericktown. This allows the Center to provide a wider range of mental health services to a greater number of individuals in need. A comprehensive array of services is available to children, adults and families. Treatment is provided for individuals with chronic mental illnesses such as major depression and bipolar (manic-depressive) disorders, as well as for those coping with abuse, school problems, family conflict, or life adjustment issues such as unemployment, aging and divorce.

The first week of October has been nationally proclaimed as Mental Illness Awareness Week for the purpose of brining attention to the positive aspects of mental health and increasing public awareness of mental illnesses, their prevention and intervention. Awareness and education are essential in order to help those who suffer from these devastating diseases. Awareness also helps combat the stigma and discrimination against persons with mental illnesses and eradicate some of the obstacles to effective treatment.

Mental Health Facts

More than seven million of America's children and adolescents suffer from diagnosable mental disorders. In Missouri alone, nearly 234,500 children and youth may exhibit some kind of emotional disorder.

Almost half of all Americans between the ages of 15 and 54 have, in their lifetimes, at least one mental or addictive disorder. Mental disorders affect 40 million Americans each year.

Total costs for alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health disorders are approximately $314 billion per year. The greatest cost is due to loss of productivity due to illness.

60-80% of individuals seeking treatment for a mental illness experience relief from symptoms following short-term treatment.

The use of general medical care is twice as high among people who suffer from mental illnesses. With appropriate mental health treatment, general health care costs could be reduced by 10% and the other costs of mental illness could be reduced by 10-40%.

For more information:

Call Community Counseling Center at (5730 334-1100.

Contact American Psychiatric Association, Division of Public Affairs/CL, 1400 K St., NW, Washington, D.C., 20005.

Call the Center for Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network at (800) 789-2647 (CMHS).

Call the National Mental Health Association at (800) 969-6642.

Check out the following Web Sites:

www.nami.org

www.nimh.nih.org

www.nmha.org

www.mhsource.com/bipolar

www.mentalhealth.org