Break the Stigma... Support Mental Health
Tax deductible
Hello everyone! We are a team of students at the University of North Texas seeking donations for our mental health campaign.
“I think I am losing my mind.” Mental health is often used as a punchline or as a throw-away comment in casual conversation. However, the stigma associated with true mental health issues are real and present. It is perceived as a societal mark of shame for those with mental health issues and impedes willingness to seek help. It also hinders social interactions and negatively affects their self-perception. This essay argues that mental health stigma is a critical barrier to healthcare and requires attention to eradicate the stigma.
Mental health issues are not new to humanity, but the stigma remains a persistent problem. Despite our growing understanding of mental health, those suffering often find themselves marginalized. Fear of being labeled discourages many from accessing the support and treatment they need.
Finding mental health assistance can be a challenge on multiple levels. Even for people with insurance options, the waiting time for accessing mental health programs can vary widely. The type of services needed, the location, and the availability of mental health professionals can profoundly impact the timeline. Urban centers have better-funded mental health infrastructures; initial consultations might be scheduled within a few weeks. In rural regions, the wait can be much longer, sometimes extending to several months. This can have a profound impact on the people who are experiencing mental health crises and the potential increased cases of suicide.
Mental Health Statistics in the Houston Area:
- Lately, there has been an increase in “mental distress frequency, drug use and suicides,” in the Houston area (Explore the Data: “Mental Health, n.d). This has put further pressure on an already vulnerable mental health care system.
- Despite improvements over the years to things such as the amount of mental health care workers that are available per resident, the Houston region still has dramatically lower professional mental health help compared to the national rate (Explore the Data: “Mental Health, n.d).
- It was reported that from 2016-2019, Houston region residents experienced a 1 day increase in the amount of monthly mentally unhealthy days (Explore the Data: “Mental Health, n.d).
- Hispanic residents in the Houston region are currently the hardest hit population suffering from mental health issues (Explore the Data: “Mental Health, n.d).
- 1 in 4 Houston area residents suffering from mental health issues also struggle with substance abuse (Explore the Data: “Mental Health, n.d).
- Suicide rates in the Houston area too have also increased, from 10.3 per every 100,000 residents during 2001-2004 to 11.2 per every 100,000 residents during 2017-2020 (Explore the Data: “Mental Health, n.d).
References
Explore the Data: “Mental Health.” Understanding Houston. (n.d.). https://www.understandinghouston.org/topic/health/mental-health#overview
We will be giving our donations directly to Mental Health America of Greater Houston. With their help we can start to raise awareness and hopefully find a solution.
percentages from Anne Eldredge. Email message to Joshua Erwin. 7/2/2024
Programs services include mental health screenings, school conferences for mental health, and recognition and response training for mental health issues. You can find out more about both the way they spend their donations and what programs they offer at this link.
Organizer
UNT Mindful-Advocates
Organizer
Paris, TX
Mental Health America of Greater Houston, Inc.
Beneficiary