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In the U.S., a significant portion of Americans are living with a diagnosable mental health condition鈥攗p to by some estimates. Yet, many people experience internal resistance to seeking mental health care. In fact, recent research has shown that of those with mental illness never seek treatment.

Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed every May. This month, we鈥檙e discussing some of the steps we can all take to .

Mental vs. physical health care

Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to seeking mental health care. 鈥淔or some reason, people often have an expectation that they shouldn鈥檛 need help for a mental illness. Or, they think that needing help makes them weak,鈥� says Dan Haycraft, MD, psychiatrist with 网曝门事件 Health St. Helena. 鈥淲e often have a totally different mindset with mental health than with other physical illnesses. If a person has pneumonia, they鈥檒l prioritize seeing a doctor. But if they鈥檙e feeling overwhelmed to the point where they can鈥檛 deal with life, people think they should be able to handle it alone.鈥�

Dr. Haycraft stresses that to break this stigma, we need to understand that mental illnesses are biological conditions, just like other physical diseases or illnesses. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a prevalent belief that if you have a mental illness, there鈥檚 a part of you that鈥檚 broken,鈥� says Dr. Haycraft. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that people understand that mental illness is not about weakness or inability to cope.鈥�

#BreakTheStigma: What can you do?

Many people who struggle with the symptoms of depression, anxiety or another mental illness don鈥檛 feel that they can be open with their friends or family. 鈥淲hatever we can do to help normalize these experiences will be helpful in breaking stigma,鈥� says Dr. Haycraft. The other essential piece, he shares, is broader education about mental health diagnoses. Often, people don鈥檛 recognize or know the signs and symptoms of common mental illnesses like clinical depression.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a third piece to this puzzle,鈥� adds Dr. Haycraft. 鈥淢any people have an inherent resistance to the idea of taking medication. It ties back into the idea that taking medication might mean that someone is sick or broken.鈥� However, many patients experience significant benefits from the right medication. Research has shown that people see the most results when they stay on a prescription for at least 6-12 months or longer. In fact, Dr. Haycraft shares that the most clinically proven treatment for depression is a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

A boost in self-image

Often, people who seek out therapy and mental health help experience a transformation in their self-image. 鈥淎s people start to work through a process of healing, they start to see themselves differently and no longer feel like they are broken,鈥� Dr. Haycraft says.

鈥淩eally the bottom line is that if you are struggling, don鈥檛 hesitate to ask for help,鈥� he concludes. 鈥淭rue mental health treatment is not sitting down for 10 minutes and writing a prescription; it鈥檚 an encompassing, holistic approach. My hope is that people can find the courage and encouragement to reach out, ask their questions and get help.鈥�