THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH 708 BOARD RELEASE
When you or someone you love is dealing with a mental health concern, it can be a lot to handle. It’s important to remember that mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. Yet people experience symptoms of mental illness differently, and some engage in potentially dangerous or risky behaviors to avoid or cover up symptoms of a potential mental health problem.
All of us need to educate ourselves about habits and behaviors that increase the risk of developing or worsening mental illness, or could be signs of mental health problems themselves. Activities like recreational drug use, obsessive internet use, excessive spending, compulsive sex, or disordered exercise patterns can be behaviors that can disrupt someone’s mental health and potentially lead them down a path towards crisis. Sudden changes in mood or behavior that is out of character for a particular person can also be a warning sign of issues.
“It is important to understand the early symptoms of mental illness and know when certain behaviors are potentially signs of something more,” said Jim Russell, Executive Director of the Vermilion County Mental Health 708 Board. “We need to speak up early and educate people about risky behavior and its connection to mental illness, and do so in a compassionate, non-judgmental way. We also need to remind people that recovery is possible. Prevention, early identification and intervention, and integrated services work. We can help reduce the burden of mental illness by identifying symptoms and warning signs early, and provide effective treatment.”
The office of the Mayor of Danville and the office of the Chairman of the Vermilion County Board are both releasing proclamations designating May as “Mental Health Awareness Month”.
