Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health in America. Mental health plays major roles in overall health and well-being. 

Various factors negatively affect mental health including: 

Physical, Financial, Sexual, or Emotional Abuse

Particularly in children, abuse affects emotion regulation, behavior, and social functioning. Prolonged abuse can program the brain in ways that make it quite difficult for even adults to overcome the affects of their childhood. (For example, a great deal of serial killers experienced prolonged abuse as children!) Adults' mental health can also suffer when abuse is introduced into their lives. (For example, an abusive romantic partner will often lead to the victim becoming withdrawal, prone to depression and/or anxiety, and naturally distrusting other people in their lives.)  

The Environment 

Weather and natural disasters can affect mental health. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that typically occurs during the fall and winter months where there is less sun and the temperatures are colder. Natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, can lead to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as anxiety and depression. Poor air quality is also linked to mental health concerns.     

Biology

Various mental health difficulties can run in families. Bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia are examples. 

Lifestyle 

Smoking, high levels of alcohol use, drug use, poor diet, lack of physical activity, lack of sleep, risky sexual behaviors, and unhealthy interpersonal relationships are all linked to decreases in mental health.  

Most individuals who experience mental health difficulties do not go around advertising their struggles. However, there are common signs that someone is going through a mental health crisis such as:  

• Changes in eating habits, either over or undereating, 
• A noticeable reduction in energy levels, 
• Withdrawing from social activities, 
• Feeling regular despair,
• Increasing alcohol, tobacco, or other drug use,
• Experiencing unexplained anger, guilt, worry, or confusion,
• Severe mood swings, 
• Picking fights with loved ones,
• Hearing voices with no identifiable source,
• Thinking about or attempting self-harm,
• Thinking about or harming others,
• Being unable to perform daily tasks with ease without physical explanation, such as showering, getting dressed, and preparing meals.  

Mental health struggles and substance abuse can go together. (In this situation "substance abuse" includes using both legal or illegal drugs, as well as alcohol, in dangerous amounts.)  While many with mental disorders use substances as a form of self-medication, abusing substances can often worsen mental illness symptoms. 

It is unclear if mental health problems or substance abuse comes first. In fact, some drugs and alcohol can cause mental health problems! For example, the drug ecstasy has been linked to long-term decreased levels of serotonin. Decreased serotonin--a mood stabilizing hormone--can result in depression or anxiety. As such, these two concerns should be treated as simultaneously as possible. 

Behavioral therapies and medication are the most common treatments for those struggling with mental instabilities and substance abuse. Behavioral therapies include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps patients learn how to cope by challenging irrational thoughts and changing behaviors.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT uses mindfulness to help regulate the emotional state of patients. This type of therapy also focuses on improving relationships.  
• Assertive community treatment (ACT). ACT uses community outreach, as well as individual treatment.
• Therapeutic communities (TC). TCs are long-term residential treatment centers, often referred to as rehab. 
• Contingency management (CM). CM uses principles linked to positive reinforcement to encourage healthy behaviors by offering vouchers or rewards for desired behaviors.

Some behavioral therapies are more often used with minors including: 

• Brief strategic family therapy (BSFT). BSFT therapy targets family interactions, especially those that affect substance use and mental health. 
• Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT). MDFT works with the whole family to address multiple and interacting adolescent problem behaviors, such as substance use, mental disorders, school problems, delinquency, and others.
• Multisystemic therapy (MST). MST addresses factors associated with serious antisocial behavior in children and adolescents with substance abuse. 

Drug abuse and mental illness fast facts. (2006, January 1). National Drug Intelligence.  Center. https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs7/7343/index.htm#:~:text=Some%20common%20serious%20mental%20disorders,panic%20disorder%2C%20and%20antisocial%20personality.  

Duszynsk-Goodman, L. (2024, February 21). Mental health statistics and facts. Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/mental-health-statistics/. 

May is mental health awareness month. (n.d.). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health-awareness-month.  

Plumptre, E. (2023, February 15). The importance of mental health. verywell mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-importance-of-mental-health-for-wellbeing-5207938. 

Robinson, L., Smith, M., and Segal, J. (n.d.). Dual diagnosis:  substance abuse and mental health. Help Guide. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/substance-abuse-and-mental-health.htm. 

Substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. (2024, March). National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health.