Mental health, an issue in W.Va.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that we, as a county, are in categorical denial about our lack of mental hygiene and that it is costing us not only in monetary value, but also in quality of life. The CDC estimates that mental illness cost us $300 billion in 2002. That's not what we paid in counseling and prescription anti-depressant. No, that is what it cost us to not take care of our mental illnesses. The CDC also reports that it is estimated that "about 25 percent of U.S. adults have a mental illness."

The CDC conducts the "The Youth Risk Behavior Survey" to assess "health-risk behaviors among 9th–12th grade students in the United States including behaviors that contribute to injuries and violence; alcohol or other drug use; tobacco use; sexual risk behaviors; unhealthy dietary behaviors and physical inactivity."

It should be no surprise, given what I said above about the overall health of West Virginians that our teens are at high risk for mental health issues. Of the 21 categories of the survey reserved for "Unintentional Injury or Violence," West Virginian self-reporting teens were above the national average in 13 areas. West Virginian teens were twice the national average for a"suicide attempt resulted in an injury, poisoning or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse." Also, teens were well above the national average for "seriously considered attempting suicide." West Virginian teens were also well above the national average in other key high-risk areas, such as tobacco and alcohol abuse and sexual and dietary behaviors. And remember, these are 14-18 year olds self-reporting!

I know from firsthand experience about high risk behaviors and mental illness, growing up in West Virginia myself. I have been dealing with periodic bouts of suicidal depression all of my life, and even went through a period of alcohol and drug abuse which was partially related to my untreated depression. I was in my thirties before I sought help and considered suicide hundreds of times in the interim, suffering silently. This does not have to be the plight of the young people of our community and families.

Fortunately, there are many community resources in the state which specialize in the treatment of mental illness. For many, it is still a stigma which must be overcome, but can be beat. I only wish that I hadn't waited so long to seek treatment. If only I had reached out for mental health counseling at age 14 or 15 instead of 31 or 32, how much needless suffering I could have missed.

Michael McAteer can be contacted at mcateer@marshall.edu.