According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. How we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices all depend on our mental health. Mental health is very important at every stage of our lives, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. 

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Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could all be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry; life experiences, such as trauma or abuse; and family history of mental health problems.

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Mental health problems are common and help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.

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There is a subset of individuals with a dual diagnosis who sometimes struggle to receive the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Usually, when people think of dual diagnosis, they think of individuals with a mental health diagnosis and a substance use disorder. However, in this instance, dual diagnosis refers to someone who has a mental health or a substance use disorder diagnosis and also has a diagnosis of an Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD).  To learn more about IDD, please visit our page called "About IDD."

 

Despite the high rates of co-occurring mental health and IDD, there is often a barrier that prevents these individuals from accessing the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Oftentimes, the mental health diagnosis is missed and not treated due to the IDD diagnosis or vice versa. There is also a misconception that individuals with IDD don't benefit from mental health treatment. In fact, treatment can be highly effective with some adaptations to mental health treatment for individuals who also have IDD.

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Many people with IDD are more isolated from the community (especially since COVID-19 began) and often still have parents as caregivers and guardians once they reach adulthood. When they do go out into the community, they can sometimes feel judged or avoided by others. Often there is a belief that they don't understand because of their language and intellectual levels, but we encourage people to not make that assumption. Many people with IDD very much understand even if they can't effectively communicate that and their feelings get hurt just like everyone else. The goal of mental health awareness is to increase awareness around various mental health needs, reduce the stigma associated with mental health, and increase access to services.

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Getting Professional Help

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You can always talk to your doctor or primary care provider about your mental health. Asking questions is a good starting point in seeking professional care for mental health concerns. Your doctor can share general information, do an initial screening, and give you referrals to mental health specialists.

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Listed below are crisis care and mental health wellness resources. If there's a resource or other information you'd like to see added to our list, please email us at thearc@arcsc.org.