COLUMBUS, Ohio - Mental illness may be more common than many people assume, with an estimated one in four Ohioans experiencing a mental health challenge at some point in their lifetime. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Katie Dillon, children and youth outreach coordinator, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Ohio (NAMI Ohio), says discrimination is a major barrier to those who are seeking treatment. Her group works to end the stigmas associated with mental disorders.

"We're encouraging individuals to speak about their mental illness, and understand that this is an illness like any other," Dillon says. "This is something that you are born with and something that you suffer with, and something that you need treatment for. So, it's not something to be ashamed of."

This summer, NAMI Ohio is launching a mobile bus campaign. Representatives will travel to over 100 communities around the state to educate the public about mental illness and build support for the almost 3 million Ohioans who experience mental health disorders.

Dillon says mental illness can affect anyone at any age, and regardless of race, economic status or education. She encourages people to watch for signs of concern in those they care about and in themselves.

"You're having a series of days that you feel are 'bad days' - you don't have as much energy, and you're starting withdrawal from your friends, and feel isolated. We encourage you at that very beginning to reach out and speak to someone that you trust," she advises.

Dillon says that could be a counselor, primary care physician or psychiatrist. She adds that with the right support, successful treatment or recovery from a mental illness are possible.

For more information, the NAMI Ohio website is www.namiohio.org.




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Starting in July, Florida students and families will receive more information on the mental health services they are entitled to.

Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, served as the mayor of Parkland during the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, where 17 students were killed. She said her time as mayor influenced her decision to sponsor House Bill 899.

"If a student is receiving behavioral health services in the school, the school is then required to let their family and/or caregivers know about the services that are available to the family and caregivers, both at the school and in the community," Hunschofsky outlined.

The measure was signed into law last week. Florida and the rest of the nation continue to observe National Mental Health Month during May, as they have for seventy years.

This year, the observation comes as schools and families grapple with the COVID lockdowns and the threat of mass shootings. Hunschofsky argued more needs to be done to provide mental health services to all Floridians, as well as a change of attitude toward mental health.

"We've seen the toll the pandemic and just life has taken on the mental health of so many," Hunschofsky noted. "It's always interesting to me that people separate mental health from physical health. And they're incredibly interconnected."

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare employer and individual, said southern states often have much less access to mental health services.

"In New England, those states have a tendency to have very high numbers of licensed mental health care professionals per capita, and in the Southeast, we see lower," Randall pointed out. "In fact, in some states, that can be a sevenfold difference."

Last year, the Florida legislature created a Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse to examine how the Sunshine State provides mental health and substance abuse services. It expects to make recommendations to lawmakers.

As the school year winds down, education leaders are shedding light on increased mental-health demands among students, including thoughts of suicide.

Various organizations in Iowa also are calling attention to the issue during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Lisa Cushatt, executive director of the trauma healing group Iowa ACES 360, said concerns were building prior to the pandemic, but adds the crisis has added layers of mental health issues for children and adolescents.

She said what's happening now shatters the myth that kids are born resilient, especially when adults in their lives feel extra stress simultaneously.

"We want to believe kids are born resilient," said Cushatt. "But we have such a responsibility as adults to help cultivate that and model that and it's really hard to do when we're in crisis ourselves."

According to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 44% of U.S. high school students recently reported persistently feeling sad or hopeless in the past year. And nearly 20% had seriously considered attempting suicide.

Last month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended screening for anxiety in youths between the ages of 8 and 18.

While school counselors are responding to more referrals, there are calls to enhance training for all staff to help these students. Those suggestions coincide with gaps in locating enough providers who can help a child away from campus.

Erin Drinnin, community impact officer for health of the United Way Central Iowa, said Iowa Children's Behavioral System is feeling the impact of the workforce shortage.

"How do we recruit enough mental-health professionals to go into school," said Drinnin, "to go into these professions to serve youth and adults?"

The Coalition to Advance Mental Health in Iowa for Kids recommends actions such as student loan forgiveness and maintaining telehealth flexibilities.

Julia Webb, program director for NAMI Iowa, said parents and educators can be proactive by intervening when warning signs pop up.

"If you're seeing a young person isolating themselves," said Webb "not taking joy in the things they've previously found happiness in, ending relationships with friends, not wanting to interact with friends."

For crisis situations, signs include expressing great shame and plans that point to ending their life.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and advocates are hoping Gov. Gavin Newsom will prioritize the issue in his revised budget, due by Sunday.

The governor's January budget proposed $4.7 million to fund the California Parent and Youth Helpline annually for three years. The helpline connects people with a trained counselor for free from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous, which runs the California Parent and Youth Helpline, said additional funding is needed to keep up with demand for their services.

"With greater resources, we could have more trained clinicians to answer the phone," Pion-Berlin explained. "The demand outstrips our capacity right now. We have people on waiting lists to get into our free online weekly support groups."

The service has helped more than 40,000 people in California since it started two years ago, but they would like to help more of the Golden State's 9.3 million children.

Last week was Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week, when people are encouraged to take action and reach out to another person who might be struggling. Pion-Berlin emphasized no one should be blamed or shamed when they ask for help.

"Parents need support in identifying and accepting that change in behavior, mood swings, sleeping patterns, change in friends, that their child looks sad, and that they may need to seek help," Pion-Berlin outlined.

A 2021 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found child suicide rates have been rising in recent years, and suicide is the 8th leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 11.