It’s Ok to Ask for Help

Did you know that…

–  Four million children and adolescents in this country struggle with a serious mental health issues that can cause them to have conflicts at home, at school, and with peers.

-Approximately 50 percent of students with a mental illness age 14 and older drop out of high school

– Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth aged 15 to 24. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.

 

Mental health conditions (like depression and anxiety) are just as important as asthma or diabetes to get help for, but, because of the stigma, fear and embarrassment associated with mental health conditions, many people do not want to get services. Without getting proper services, problems may get worse, and may result in school failure, drug and alcohol abuse, risky sexual experiences and involvement in the juvenile justice system.

If you don’t feel like yourself…if you are having trouble focusing….if you feel down, nervous, anxious, angry or upset…and these feelings last for more than a few days, then it may be time to get help. You do not need to go through this alone. You have back-up! Reach out to your BridgeUP Fellow, BeWell Health Fellow or call suicide prevention hotline: 630-482-9696, parent stress hotline – help for parents 800-632-8188; crisis help line 800-233-4357, crisis chat line Text HOME 741741.

(adapted from http://www.namihelps.org/assets/PDFs/fact-sheets/Children-and-Adolescents/Facts-on-Childrens-Mental-Health–in-America.pdf)