The Importance of Prioritizing Mental Health
Sara Coffey, D.O.
OSU Behavioral Medicine
Board-certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry
Mental illness is more common than most people think, affecting a person’s thoughts, feelings, moods, relationships with others and their ability to function each day. It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults will experience some form of mental illness in a given year. For children aged 6 to 17, 1 in 6 will experience a mental health disorder.
The most important thing I can say about mental illness is – it’s not your fault!
The second most important thing is that recovery is possible. I can’t stress enough how important it is to talk about our own needs for mental health services to make sure we are taking care of our emotional health.
Mental health symptoms can present at an early age.
Research has shown us that mental illness, found in patients of every age and economic level of our community, starts much earlier than we once thought. The disorder begins by the age of 14 for half of those affected, and by the age of 24 for 75 percent of us. These facts only underscore the importance of early detection.
Children can often go several years without receiving any diagnosis or treatment which is why it’s really important for us as caregivers to listen to any concerns family may have about emerging symptoms. We know that if children are diagnosed and treated, they can go on to have very healthy lives.
What are the symptoms of mental illness in children? We often see children and adolescents start to struggle in school. Students as early as elementary or middle school quite often show signs of anxiety disorder, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or even depression.
Treatment works.
There are very effective treatments out there that can help children enhance their emotional wellness and get them on the trajectory to a positive, healthy life. Whether it is medications or talk therapies, we have proven treatments for diseases such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse and many more. So if you or someone you love are struggling with your emotional health, please reach out and seek treatment because it works and recovery is possible.
Increase in mental illness.
Following the isolation of the pandemic, we saw a significant increase in mental illness across all ages. The good news is it expanded the community conversation because we couldn’t ignore the ongoing epidemic of mental illness anymore. Leading health experts are talking about the loneliness epidemic and the concerns for our geriatric populations, only reinforcing the idea that many of us are struggling with mental health disorders across the age continuum.
Community impact.
Our team at OSU Medicine includes not only psychiatrists, but also school psychologists and general psychologists, who are doing a lot of great work across this region of the state. Our school psychologists are working with districts to ensure that behavioral health needs of our children are met. Meanwhile, our child psychiatry team hosts our Oklahoma Child Psychiatry Access Line, or OKCAPMAP, which is available to pediatricians, family medicine and other clinicians working in the primary care setting. Clinicians can call our line anytime between 9a – 5p to talk to a child psychiatrist on the spot. We also have our amazing OSU ECHO lines that are providing care to the rural community by educating health care providers in addiction medicine, psychiatry, infant mental health and more.
In addition, I’m excited to announce that with our partnership with OSU Virtual Care, our psychiatry team is able to provide virtual psychiatric services in rural areas. Rural emergency department physicians now have access to a psychiatrist to support patients with a psychiatric emergency, allow us to treat patients earlier and avoid hospitalizations. We are also extending this virtual care to several rural schools this fall.
OSU Medicine is looking to the next horizon for emotional and behavioral treatments with research by better understanding protective factors in the generational development of mental illness. Understanding the impact of ACES – Adverse Childhood Experiences – helps us identify families and communities for diagnosis and treatment support.
Prioritize your mental health.
We shouldn’t take our mental health for granted, as it is a vital part of our overall healthy body. Commit to taking good care of yourself by getting adequate sleep and following a healthy diet. Make time to engage with family and friends, and get regular wellness checks with your primary care doctor.
If you have questions or concerns about your emotional or behavioral health – be bold and ask your doctor for help. OSU Medicine Clinics are here to help.
OSU Behavioral Medicine | 918-236-4000