May is Mental Health Awareness month. Here at GA, we want to make sure our colleagues and community are aware of the facts and how to find help when needed. According to John Hopkins, and other respected researchers, anxiety, not just everyday nervousness or concern, affects more people than any other mental illness affecting an estimated 48 million people.
1 in 8 children and 1 in 4 adults either live with or will experience mental health issues that require treatment. The National Institute of Health estimates that people experience at least one significant depressive episode per year, affecting 21 million adults in 2021.
Anxiety, depression, and other serious disorders exist on a continuum. Professionals, such as the clinical staff at GA, use tools to help determine the intensity, frequency, and duration of these disturbances.
Many disorders have similar symptoms including, but not limited to,:
- Insomnia/sleeping too much
- Agitation
- Loss of appetite/increased appetite
- Social withdrawal
- Emotional numbness
- Inability to concentrate
- Excessive fear and worry
- Self-harm
- Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
- Considering suicide
If these symptoms begin to affect your ability to get the most out of your day, it may be time to consider reaching out for help. The clinical staff at Gang Alternative, Inc. are available to you at 786-391-2375.
If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 | Text “NAMI” to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling | If calling 911: Ask for a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) NAMI Miami-Dade County
