Treatment Options for Mental Illness

Early Intervention for Mental Health Problems

Mental illness affects not only the entire person physically and emotionally but also their family and friends.   Teen Screen — the National Center for Mental Health Checkups of Columbia University — seeks to screen teenagers early on for mental health issues to ensure that proper treatment is given as early as possible.   Indeed, mental health workers have found that the earlier an issue is discovered, the more treatable it will be. This is so important because one suffering from mental health issues that does not receive treatment, will actually not be able to function on a day-to-day basis.

In addition, what many people don’t realize is just how common mental illness is — more so than even the big diseases we all hear about like cancer and diabetes.   That is why the work of Teen Screen and other such organizations engaging in early intervention is so crucial.   Indeed, approximately 44 million Americans (and a staggering 20 percent of kids in the country) will encounter a mental disorder each year.

So kids need help.   Since over five million kids suffer from a serious mental condition at some point in their lives to the extent that they actually cannot function.   Clearly then, this is an issue that needs top attention.   The main mental illnesses Americans are suffering from are: bipolar, depression and schizophrenia, resulting in the country’s “top 10 leading causes of disability.”

Mental Illness Affects All

What many individuals do not realize is that mental illness does not discriminate and can affect anyone at any age, class or cultural background, both males and females (but often females suffer more with eating disorders and males with ADHD issues).

So it must be treated.   But how?   There are many different ways and you need to find what works for you. Some of these are;   therapy (group, individual, psychotherapy, CBT); medication, hospitalization (or outpatient treatment); alternative therapies like massage, water therapy; art/play/music; hypnotherapy.   Sometimes a combination of these is required.   It just depends on the individual.