By Colleen Labbe, Senior Science Writer/Editor and Press Officer at the National Institutes of Health

Since 1990, the first full week of October has been designated National Mental Illness Awareness Week. This year, National Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place from October 7-13. It reminds us all that our mental health is vitally important to our overall health.

In the United States, mental disorders are common and do not discriminate. Men, women and children of all walks of life are affected by depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and other serious mental illnesses every year.

The goal of the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health, is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.

Learn more about mental disorders and how they can be successfully treated.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental illness, find out how you can get help.

Ongoing stress can increase your risk of many health problems, including heart disease, obesity, depression, and diabetes.

Everyone experiences stress from time to time, but if you feel constant stress and experience physical symptoms (such as headaches, back or neck pain, difficulty sleeping), it’s probably time to take action.

There are things you can do to reduce or cope with stress. Here are a few resources to help you:

• Tips for Preventing and Managing Stress
• Reducing Stress by Simplifying Your Life
• Alternative Therapies and Coping Suggestions

If you think you would benefit from talking to someone other than family and friends, find a mental health facility in your area.

Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression.

Financial struggles can put a strain on your mental health. Stress about job security, paying the bills, putting food on the table, and making ends meet for your family can build over time to unhealthy levels.

This stress can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and more.

If you notice signs of increasing stress, like excessive fatigue, apathy or increased irritability, you can take steps to manage your stress levels.

• Try to keep things in perspective and recognize the good things you have going on in your life.
• Participate in physical activity to blow off steam and release extra stress.
• Develop new skills that could help you land a new job.

However, if you or someone you know seems desperate and may be considering suicide or other forms of self harm, seek help immediately by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Learn more about how to deal with stress from tough economic times.

To learn about other free resources to help you no matter what your financial situation, sign up for our e-mail list or visit our page.

By Christopher Marshall, Special Assistant to the Director, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA

Do you, or have you felt stressed about having enough money, getting or keeping a job, and the overall state of the economy? You’re not alone. According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, money, work and the economy are the three top cited reasons for stress among Americans.

It is important to recognize that many life or social circumstances, such as financial insecurity, poverty, homelessness, can have an impact on your health and behavioral health. For example, research by economists has shown that people who have experienced long-term unemployment (longer than 25 weeks) are 3 times more likely than people who have been employed throughout the past year to experience mental health issues for the first time.

While each of us deal with stress differently, prolonged periods of stress can disrupt one’s physical and behavioral health. More specifically, it can substantially increase the risk of developing problems such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Compulsive behaviors
• Substance abuse

In order to protect your mental health, it is important to be aware of the signs that financial problems may be adversely affecting your emotional or mental well being:

• Persistent Sadness/Crying
• Excessive Anxiety
• Lack of Sleep/Constant Fatigue
• Excessive Irritability/Anger
• Increased drinking
• Illicit drug use, including misuse of medications
• Difficulty paying attention or staying focused
• Apathy - not caring about things that are usually important to you
• Not being able to function as well at work, school or home

While there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to managing stress, there are some common coping techniques you can try:

• Trying to keep things in perspective - recognize the good aspects of life and retain hope for the future.
• Strengthening connections with family and friends who can provide important emotional support.
• Engaging in activities such as physical exercise, sports or hobbies that can relieve stress and anxiety.
• Developing new employment skills that can provide a practical and highly effective means of coping and directly address financial difficulties.

If these problems persist, you may need additional help. Try talking to your friends and family, healthcare provider, spiritual leader, school counselor or community health clinic. If you need help finding mental health or addiction services and resources in your area, visit the Mental Health Services Locator and the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.

Remember that your behavioral health is essential to your overall health and that financial difficulties can have an impact on your emotional well being. Maintaining and promoting your health and behavioral health is a good start to handling tough financial worries. To learn more about the impact of employment and the economy on behavioral health, please visit the ADS Center.

To learn about other free resources to help you no matter what your financial situation, sign up for our e-mail list or visit our page.