#breakthestigma

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 1 in 5 people will be affected by a mental health issue in their lifetime. Take the time to show you care about mental health.

Mental Health Facts

• 1 in 5 (46.6 million) adults in the United States experience a mental health condition in a given year.
• 1 in 25 (11.2 million) adults in the United States experience a serious mental health issue in a given year.
• Approximately 46.6 million adults in the United States face the reality of managing a mental health issue every day.
• Half of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24, but early intervention programs can help.
• Up to 90% of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental health issue as revealed by psychological autopsy. 46% of those who die by suicide have a diagnosed mental health issue.
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. With effective care, suicidal thoughts are treatable, and suicide is preventable.
• Individuals with mental health conditions face an average 11-year delay between experiencing symptoms and starting treatment.
• Common barriers to treatment include the cost of mental health care and insurance, prejudice and discrimination, and structural barriers like transportation.
• Even though most people can experience relief from symptoms and support for their recovery in treatment, less than half of the adults in the United States get the help they need.

What Is Stigma?

People experiencing mental health conditions often face rejection, bullying and even discrimination. This can make their journey to recovery longer and more difficult. Stigma is when someone, or you yourself, views you in a negative way because you have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as shame that can be felt as a judgement from someone else or a feeling that is internal, something that confuses feeling bad with being bad.

Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well. Learning how to cope with stigma and how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us.

Mohawk's Employee Assistance

If you or a family member are experiencing any mental health related symptoms or other challenges, Employee Assistance (EA) helps you and your family members successfully manage life’s challenges including (but not limited to) Stress Management, Depression/Anxiety, Family/Parenting, General Wellness & Healthy Living, Emotional, Workplace Issues, Alcohol/Drug Abuse, Legal Services, and Financial Assistance. It is a free and completely confidential service.

Go online to www.mycigna.com (employer ID: mohawk) or call 855-566-4295.