Mental illnesses constitute one of the most serious, unrecognized public health problems in America today. As a group, they afflict one in three people. Psychiatric problems affect people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. They occur in all income groups, in urban and rural areas and in all religions. Myths and silence continue to shroud mental illnesses. In some quarters, talking about them is a taboo. reporting past psychiatric treatment on job applications can mean the end to some persons chance for employment. The stigma attached to mental illnesses gives rise to discriminatory health insurance benefits, inadequate research dollars and financially starved public mental health care systems. Silence is no treatment for those who suffer mental illnesses or for their families and loved ones. To overcome that silence, the Iowa Psychiatric Society has undertaken a campaign to make the public more aware of the facts about mental illnesses. A mental illness does not always begin suddenly. In fact, many people mistake the symptoms of mental illnesses for those of some physical disorders. thirty percent of the people who seek general medical care actually suffer from a diagnosable and treatable mental illness. Unlike many physical illnesses with sudden and an obvious onset, symptoms of many mental illnesses develop gradually over time. Victims and their families must review extended periods of time to realize that emotional reactions, thought processes, and behaviors have changed. Sadly, only one in five people who suffer from these debilitating illnesses recognizes them and realize that treatment is highly successful. Treatments today, which include medications and psychotherapy alone or in combination, successfully alleviate or eliminate the symptoms of most major mental illnesses. Medications relive the hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia for 80 percent of those who receive treatment. Psychiatrists help 80 to 90 percent of the people who suffer from major depression and they feel better within a few weeks. Medications relieve symptoms of manic-depressive (bipolar) disorder among patients who seek treatment. It is time to begin talking about mental illness. A lot of people out there are troubled, often depressed or anxious and do not know why each day seems harder. they blame themselves, worry what other people think, and are scared nothing can be done. but like most health problems, emotional problems can be treated. So do not be afraid to ask for help. It is a sign of strength. The Iowa Psychiatric Society wants you to know the facts.
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