May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in an effort to educate the public on the effects of mental illness, encourage those who are struggling to seek help, and to break the stigma of feeling uncomfortable talking about mental health. This month, NAMI is promoting the message of “Together for Mental Health,” to show support and advocate for better access to mental health services for everyone. Our entire team at The Blanchard Institute proudly stands behind this movement. We are strong believers that no one can, or should, recover alone.
Mental illness affects not only the individual but their entire support system. And many times the family members are better able to relate to the root of negative feelings than any friend or doctor ever could. That is why our team focuses not only on treating the entire family system but on addressing the underlying issue that led to these feelings as well.
Our addiction treatment programs are built around a belief in dual diagnosis, recognizing that co-occurring mental health problems are often the root cause of substance misuse. It has been found that nearly half of all people who struggle with mental health are working through addiction at the same time. Misuse of substances is more often than not related to the experience of trauma. Our team strives every day to ensure that every aspect of both our Lake Norman and Charlotte rehab facilities is trauma-informed. Caring, experienced staff members coupled with a safe and comfortable environment create a space where the difficult work of addressing mental health needs and trauma can occur simultaneously with the treatment of a substance use disorder.
However, coming into our facility is not always easy. The most important thing to remember as you battle with mental health is that there is no shame in recognizing your struggles or in asking for help. In fact, asking for help is the bravest thing you can do to help yourself heal. Over 27 million U.S. adults who are experiencing mental illness right now are not receiving the treatment they need. This has proven to be detrimental over the past two years as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the number of dual diagnoses across America to increase dramatically.
If you or someone you love are struggling with mental health and addiction, we are here to help. We offer free, community support groups along with in-person and virtual assessments to make getting treatment as easy as possible. Please give us a call today at 704.288.1097 for more information.
RESOURCES:
Dual Diagnosis: Substance Abuse and Mental Health – HelpGuide.org
The State of Mental Health in America– MHANational.org
The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use | KFF
