This post was originally published on Afro
By Sandra Charite
Within the past couple of years, this country has been facing a crisis that can no longer be ignored. While advertising campaigns have been created and celebrities have front lined endorsements to discuss this issue, the number of people dealing with mental health continues to grow.
Depression, self-harm and suicide are rising among young people. The 2020 pandemic highlighted the significance of prioritizing mental health yet the number of those walking around untreated continues to grow. At some point, we will have to realize that mental health is a serious crisis in our country.
This month is Mental Health Awareness Month, which is a time to bring awareness to this issue affecting millions worldwide.
According to Mental Health America, suicidal ideation continues to increase among adults in the U.S. The number of youth struggling with depression has increased. Sadly, the majority of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, totaling over 20 million adults in the United States who are being untreated. White youth with depression were more likely to receive mental health treatment while Asian-Americans youth were least likely to receive mental health care.
So many people are still recovering from Covid-19 and the challenges of 2020. Personally, the pandemic took a toll on my mental health. I found myself going to work and coming home to my empty apartment.