Think you know about mental illness? Think again.
Did you know that:
One in five people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, and one family in four has a member who has a mental illness and will require some type of treatment
According to SAMHSA the prevalence of serious mental health conditions in the 18-25 years of age group is almost double that of the general population.
These alarming facts have prompted the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to partner with the MS Think Again Network to launch its new Think Again campaign beginning October 5, 2009. This campaign is a statewide mental health awareness campaign that is targeted to young adults and focused on changing their attitudes toward mental health and seeking help.
As a facility of the MS Department of Mental Health, East Mississippi State Hospital will be distributing various materials to local schools, church groups and youth organizations throughout the duration of the Think Again campaign. Through the EMSH Speaker’s Bureau, we will also be available to bring eye opening presentations to youth that encourages them to support their friends who may be faced with a mental illness, to encourage help-seeking behaviors and to change the overall view of how teens look at mental illness.
If you or your organization are interested in educational materials on the Think Again campaign or if you would like to be apart of our Speaker’s Bureau presentations, please contact the EMSH Office of Public Information at 601-581-7884 or 601-581-7856.
And remember, mental illness can happen to anyone; no one is immune. It is any equal opportunity disease that can strike people from all walks of life. But fighting to make a societal change toward acceptance of mental illness is the first step in seeking a cure.
Sincerely,
Diana Eggler
EMSH Office of Public Information
