How many people do you think suffer from mental illness in the U.S.? Would you believe 1 in 5 adults across the nation struggle annually with some form of mental illness. That’s roughly 44 million people or nearly 20% of the population.
You know people with at least one mental illness. It could be your mother, brother or anyone in your family. It could be your neighbor or the person handing you back your change at the grocery store. It could be your favorite celebrity or the pastor at your church.
Mental illness is an equal opportunity problem. Anyone can suffer from any ethnicity, any socio economic group or any part of the world.
Many of those that suffer do so quietly, alone with no help. It’s not a leap to say that our mental health system is broken.
What Do You Mean “Mental Illness?”
It doesn’t have to be a nebulous or vague term. Mental illness is defined as a thought or mood disorder that affects the person’s ability to function in daily life. Examples of mental illness include mood disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders or bipolar disorder. Each of these can occur on a continuum which means the person can experience mild symptoms all the way to crippling debilitation.
Our country is experiencing a wave of opioid addiction presently- the likes of which, we’ve never seen in our generation. Not since the end of the Civil War where war veterans came home addicted to morphine have we seen so many people abusing and overdosing on opiates. Addiction destroys lives as well as kills people. It’s one of the most powerful forms of mental illness we know. Addiction is suicide on the installment plan.
Far too often, mental health treatment is seen as far too expensive with limited options. Around Atlanta, there are stabilization hospitals like Peachford, Summit Ridge, Ridgeview, Anchor, etc. These facilities do what they can to help people but the system is limited by what insurance companies will pay for. Once the insurance runs out, the treatment options become more limited.
Where To Go When You Have Nowhere To Go
People who are lucky enough to be admitted to one of the stabilization hospitals mentioned above often find themselves in a dilemma once it’s time for discharge. Too often, home isn’t a safe or supportive place. When this is the case, mentally ill people are faced with far too few options. This is where a transitional living facility can be a perfect option.
At Beautiful Mind, we offer a safe, structured place to help you continue your recovery. We provide the place to help you get back on your feet. Our goal is simple- to support your recovery and help you return to a productive life.
Suffering from mental illness doesn’t have to be the end of anything. At Beautiful Mind, we work to help you make this just another chapter of your life. Call us today to discuss all that we have to offer.
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