May has been designated as National Mental Health Awareness month. During this month, state, local, and national organizations and groups are making a concerted effort to raise awareness regarding mental and behavioral health issues within our communities.
The Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five Americans lives with a mental health condition. These conditions may vary from being mild to moderate to severe.
Mental health and behavioral conditions can impact individuals from all walks of life, including well-known artists and celebrities. Recently, it was reported that Grammy-winning country music star Naomi Judd, who was part of the mother-daughter duo The Judds, died by suicide at age 76. Judd had talked openly about her struggle with depression. News of the singer’s death came just months after former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst’s death by suicide. Kryst died in New York City in late January following a longtime battle with high-functioning depression.
In a recent article, Dr. Allison Young, MD, an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, related that “depression and other mental illnesses are known risk factors for suicide, which is why it’s important to know the signs of each.”
America’s Health Rankings from the United Health Foundation found that nearly 15 percent of US adults ages 65 and older have been diagnosed with depression by a doctor or another health professional.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately “a third of all people experiencing mental illnesses and about half of people living with severe mental illnesses also experience substance abuse.” A substance abuse disorder is when an individual’s use of drugs or alcohol reaches such as level that it significantly impairs their functioning and daily life. Approximately one in four people with a serious mental illness also struggle with a substance abuse disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is another prevalent mental health condition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), PTSD can develop after exposure to an extraordinarily traumatic event. Events that may lead to PTSD include, but are not limited to:
- Personal injury accidents
- Violent physical assaults
- Sexual violence or abuse, and
- Other violent or traumatic events.
Approximately half of US adults will experience at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. Those with severe PTSD may experience persistent, frightening thoughts and memories of the event(s), difficulty sleeping, feelings of isolation, or maybe easily startled. In severe forms, PTSD can significantly impair a victim’s ability to function socially and at work and home.
Mental Health Conditions Due to Personal Injury
Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are common responses to experiencing a serious personal injury or exposure to a traumatic event. In some cases, an individual’s mental health condition may be attributable to another party’s reckless or negligent conduct. Under these circumstances, the injured party may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim for their emotional damages.
If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health condition due to another party’s actions, you should get the help you need immediately and then schedule a consultation to talk with an experienced and compassionate personal injury attorney to discuss your claim.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury trauma can impact a patient for years or even life. However, the law limits the time you have to take action to pursue an emotional injury claim. Therefore, if you or a loved one have been injured by another’s conduct, it’s important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case.
Our lawyers have extensive experience in handling personal and emotional injury claims. We have over 100 years of combined experience and have obtained many multi-million-dollar recoveries on behalf of injured clients.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to negligence, you should contact the compassionate and experienced attorneys at Bonina & Bonina at 1-888-MEDLAW 1 or click here for a free consultation. Se Habla Espanol. Home and hospital visits are available.