Depression is a real illness that can be treated with the right diagnosis and treatment. The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation provides information on caregiving, mental health issues related to older adults, and a toolkit for recovery from depression. The National LGBT Help Center provides peer counseling by phone and email, as well as information and resources. If you have symptoms of depression, it is important to see your family doctor or psychiatrist for a thorough evaluation.
It is normal for family dynamics to change when a family member is diagnosed with a serious mental illness. If you have an appointment with your primary care provider, consider raising your mental health problems and asking for help. The NIMH statistics pages include statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the United States population. Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major depressive disorder can affect family and friends.
If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has questions about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Clinical trials are research studies that look for new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions, including mental illness. More than 40 research groups conduct basic and clinical neuroscientific research on mental illness, brain function, and behavior on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. It's helpful to remember that people with serious mental illnesses can live rich and full lives.
Look for treatment programs in your state that treat the recent onset of serious mental illnesses. It is also important to preserve relationships with other family members while caring for a loved one with a mental illness. If someone works long hours, cares for a family member, or is struggling financially, they may have poor mental health. It is important to maintain your own health while caring for a loved one with a mental illness. Learn more about NIMH's commitment to accelerating the pace of scientific progress and transforming mental health care.
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