Mental health forum set to make a difference
Vashon-Maury Island BeachcomberNov 08, 2018
Among islanders,
This week, the person who stepped up is
"This is a place where people are not getting their needs met," she said about
She wants to change that. First up is a forum on Saturday, offered in partnership with
We hope this vision will become a reality — first, that Saturday's event will be well attended and that ongoing support systems will form to help lighten the heavy loads too many people are carrying.
• One-half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14; three-quarters by age 24.
• More than 18 percent of adults (42 million) have an anxiety disorder; nearly 7 percent (16 million) live with major depression; 2.6 percent (6 million) have bipolar disorder, and slightly more than 1 percent (2.4 million) live with schizophrenia.
• Worldwide, depression is the leading cause of disability.
• 90 percent of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in
Treatment for people who have a mental illness still does not occur often enough. Nearly 60 percent of adults with a mental illness didn't receive mental health services in the previous year, according to NAMI statistics. For youth, the picture is only marginally better. Nearly 50 per of children and teens ages 8 to 15 didn't receive mental health services in the previous year. Race makes a large difference, as well.
Behind the numbers, of course, are stories of pain and perseverance. We hope that Saturday's event will open doors, encourage treatment when appropriate and, vitally important, let islanders with mental illness and those who love them know that they have support here at home.