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MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health: Too Important to Ignore

Mental illness—diseases like depression, anxiety, bi-polar, obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic stress disorder and others—are very treatable. And early diagnosis and treatment is the most effective way to restore mental health. Yet two-thirds of us never seek help for mental disorders. Learn how to identify the different types of mental illness, and how to find and get help.

NEXT What Is It?

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Colleen’s Story

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Lorette’s Story

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What Can I Do About It?

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Humberto’s Story

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A Disease Like Any Other

Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health

A comprehensive reference @ surgeongeneral.gov

National Institute of Mental Health

Disorder-specific information @ nimh.nih.gov

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Mental illness comprehensively defined @ nami.org

More Resources...

Examine
your attitude.

Mental illnesses are still seen as different from other common health conditions like heart or kidney disease. Don't let your own attitudes or society's stigma get in the way of getting treatment for yourself or others.

Know the signs and symptoms.

If you don't know what to look for, you could miss the signs of mental illness in yourself, your family or your friends. Go online and get smart – it's not hard and it can make all the difference in preventing mental illness and dealing with it.

Address potential problems.

Unresolved issues, stress, and ignored behaviors can lead to unrecognized and untreated mental illness. Parents, kids, spouses, significant others and friends need to ask and talk about how they're feeling.

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