Kalpana Prasad, MD – Program Director, Psychiatry Residency Program
May is Mental Health Awareness month, which brings us a great opportunity to educate and raise awareness about the rising need to address mental illness. Here are a few facts:
Mental Health Facts
• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.
• 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
• Mental illness impacts the below minority groups annually by:
14% of Asian adults
17% of Black adults
17% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
18% of Hispanic/Latinx adults
19% of Indigenous adults
32% of multiracial adults
44% of LGBTQI adults
The following screening tools may be used to explore possible mental health risks, but should not be used as a substitute for professional assessment or treatment.
Your Mind Your Body – Talking To Your Doctor About Mental Health
Starting a Conversation with Someone about their Mental Health
Myth vs. Facts
Let’s Help REDUCE the STIGMA about Mental Illness and remember that “Having a Mental Illness can be a big part of somebody’s life, but it shouldn’t be the only part you see.”
Myth: Mental health problems are very rare. Fact: Mental health problems affect one in five people.
Myth: People with mental health problems are different from normal people. Fact: We all have mental health, just like we all have physical health.
Myth: People with mental illness never recover. Fact: People with mental illness can and do recover.
Myth: After experiencing a mental health problem, people are weaker. Fact: Many people who have gone through this actually feel stronger.
Myth: People with mental illness are violent and unpredictable. Fact: People with mental illness are more likely to be a victim of violence.
Myth: I don’t know anyone with a mental illness. Fact: Someone you know or love has experienced a mental illness.
Resident Support
Residency can be an inherently stressful time in the career of a physician, and the well-being of our resident physicians is something we take very seriously at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Declines in physician well-being are linked to lower quality patient care and patient satisfaction, increased errors, and decreased health system performance. Our goal is to ensure that our residents are equipped with the tools and resources that enable them to be their best so they can provide the highest quality care for our patients. Take a few minutes to browse our Wellness program and the resources we offer.
To learn more about our Psychiatry residency program, visit us here.