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May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Break the Silence, Break the Stigma.

May 30, 2017

Do you know what mental illness feels like? We often hear the clinical terms used by doctors and other professionals to identify the symptoms of mental illnesses…but if someone hasn’t gone through it, would they know how to recognize it?

So often, clinical terms don’t do justice to what life with a mental illness feels like. We know that two people with the same diagnosis can experience the same symptom and describe it in very different ways. Understanding the signs of a mental illness and identifying how it can feel can be confusing—and sometimes can contribute to ongoing silence or hesitation to get help.

It’s important for people to talk about how it feels to live with a mental illness. We know that mental illnesses are common and treatable, and help is available. But not everyone knows what to look for when they are going through those early stages, and many simply experience symptoms differently. We all need to speak up early to help remove the shame and stigma of speaking out, so that more people can be comfortable coming out of the shadows and seeking the help they need.

At Greater Family Health, we strive to meet the needs of the communities we serve. And it is that sense of community that drives our Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) program. We work to help the whole person by collaboration between medical and behavioral healthcare. We also work closely with other agencies in the area to provide appropriate referrals for any ongoing supportive care that is needed.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, or if you would like more information regarding mental health, please feel free to talk with your Primary Care Physician or one of our Mental Health providers about the BHI program at Greater Family Health. We provide brief counseling for individuals 12 years and older at both our Greater Family Health in Elgin and Greater Family Health in McHenry. Although our focus is on depression, we often work with individuals with many different concerns. We strive to meet each individual where they are in their process of change as we help guide them to living the life they want to live.

If you would like more information about the Behavioral Health Integration program please contact the Behavioral Health Coordinator at 844-599-3700.