Why Mental Health Services?
Mental health is more than just how you feel.
Your mental well-being shapes how you manage stress, interact with people, and experience sleep.
All too often, people overlook whats really causing them distress in their lives.
We tell ourselves “I’m just irritable because I’m not sleeping enough.”, or “I can’t focus because my work (or school) has gone from in-person to over the computer.”.
And while these may be partially true statements – the underlying cause is often poor mental health.
While life before COVID-19 posed it’s own mental health challenges:
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) stated:
- Cowlitz County is designated a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), ranked in the lower half for mental health providers per capita with just 1 mental health provider per 360 residents.
- 1 in 8 adults reported poor mental health.
- Suicide is in the top 10 causes of death in Washington.
Living through a pandemic has given rise to skyrocketing rates of anxiety and depression:
The Surgeon General has stated:
- The United States has entered a “youth mental health crisis”.
- 37% of high school students (public and private) reported poor mental health.
- More than 40% of high school students report feeling hopeless.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided data showing that:
- 1 in 10 children under 17 suffer from:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Anxiety
- Behavior Problems
- Nearly 20% of children under 17 years of age have seriously considered suicide in the past year
- 1 in 5 have made a suicide plan
- 1 in 10 have attempted suicide
- Less than half have received NO mental health treatment