You’ve realized you have a problem.

Perhaps you’ve been struggling with feelings of depression. Or are worried you may be relying too much on drugs or alcohol to cope with life. Maybe your anxiety has risen to the point where you are having trouble going to work every day. Or your mood swings are becoming so severe that you worry you may have bipolar disorder.

Whatever the mental health problem may be, you recognize that something is wrong. And you believe it’s time to find help. You wouldn’t be the first—or the last. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 3 percent of all Americans have dealt with serious psychological distress over the past 30 day period. That’s about a million people. And Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that a whopping 26 percent of Americans aged 18 or older — that’s one in four adults — suffers from a mental health disorder in a given year.

You are not alone. And help is available.

Perhaps, however, you don’t know where to begin. Luckily, today, many mental health advocacy groups and treatment organizations offer tools and resources to help you find your way to that help. Many of them are available on the Internet.

If your mental health problems are not yet interfering with daily activities of living, like work and relationships, you can, of course, always speak to your primary care physician or another trusted healthcare provider to ask for a referral to mental health care. They can help connect you to the right resources.

Advocacy organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America offer tools and resources to direct you to help. Mental Health America also offers online screening tools that may be of assistance.

But sometimes, you may feel like you need more immediate assistance. The kind of assistance that can’t wait for an appointment or be helped with an online assessment. If you are suffering from this kind of anguish, don’t hesitate—reach out for help immediately.

If you are in severe emotional distress or feeling suicidal, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This confidential crisis counseling center can not only offer someone to talk to when you need it—they can also offer mental health referrals. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also offers online tools as well as a Live Online Chat.

If you are feeling suicidal, out of control, or worry that you may harm others, call emergency medical services at 9-1-1, or go immediately to your local emergency room for help. These emergency services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

September is a special month for mental health awareness. It is both National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. And these awareness events offer a variety of opportunities to get the help you need.

You are not alone. And help is available.

So if you find that you are one of those millions of Americans suffering from severe psychological distress, don’t hesitate. Find help now. You don’t need to suffer in silence.

The information on this website is provided as a general information resource only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.  Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is provided “as is”.  Assurex Health makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the information on this website.