Along with gardens getting planted and (hopefully) the last snowstorms of the season, the month of May brings with it a couple of important awareness campaigns, one for Mental Health and the other for Tourette Syndrome.
These issues are plagued by stigma and in some cases, shame. However, there are many organizations providing support, resources, and education for those affected by these problems, as well as their loved ones.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Millions of people are affected by mental health issues, both directly and indirectly. One in 5 adults and 1 in 6 children will have a mental health issue at some point during a given year, and 50% of all chronic mental illnesses start before age 14.
While awareness of these concerns has increased over the years, the pandemic seemed to intensify the world’s focus on mental health and its connection to overall health. The downside of this increased focus is that it may be resulting from growing numbers of people who have developed mental health symptoms, before, during, and after COVID-19.
Untreated mental illness negatively impacts almost every part of a person’s life, as well as their loved ones, their employers, and the community. The largest concern for those suffering from mental illness is the possibility of suicide. A study released in March determined that El Paso County still holds the state’s highest suicide rate, and led to the implementation of a new Suicide Prevention Collaborative.
Aside from the devastating impact of suicide and suicide attempts, mental illness can express itself in myriad ways. Relationships fail, friendships end and jobs are lost. Sometimes bills are not paid, or money is spent impulsively – leading to debt or even homelessness (nearly 21% of homeless people have a diagnosable mental health issue). Basic hygiene may be neglected, and people may overeat or simply not eat, leading to secondary health issues.
Some people may commit property or personal crimes (though most people with mental illness are more likely to be a victim of violence than to perpetrate it). The overall quality of life tends to decline, no matter the diagnosis, and it is usually the pain caused by this decline that motivates people to seek help.
There are a variety of mental illnesses, many of which share similar symptoms. It is impossible to list every possible symptom and the diagnostic criteria for each condition, and it is also important to remember that mental illness can still exist even if a person does not meet all criteria for a full diagnosis.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides an extensive list of common mental health symptoms. A few to be on the lookout for include excessive worry, feelings of hopelessness, extreme mood changes, changes in sleep and/or eating habits, issues with concentration, strong irritability or anger, lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and social situations, and substance abuse. Some of the most diagnosed mental illnesses are Anxiety, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and bipolar disorder.
Most mental conditions are manageable with treatment, which can include a variety of therapy approaches as well as medications if warranted or therapy is unsuccessful. Other supplemental treatments can include exercise, yoga, neurofeedback, meditation, art, writing, working with animals, theater, and more. It may take time to find a therapist and therapy modality that works, and a good fit of the therapist is crucial to making lasting progress in treatment.
The entire month of May is observed as Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a time to raise awareness of common mental health issues and symptoms, provide support to people living with different mental health conditions, and educate people on resources available to them and their families, as well as combating stigma.
Tourette Awareness Month: May 15 – June 15, 2022
Tourette Syndrome is estimated to be present in about one out of every 160 children between ages 5-17 and is three times more likely to appear among males than females. It is also estimated that less than half of people living with Tourette Syndrome end up diagnosed with it.
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder resulting in involuntary verbal and motor tics. To reach a full diagnosis, a person must show a combination of one verbal tic and two different motor tics that last over one year. Other tic disorders may be diagnosed if that initial criterion is not met, but the stigma faced by tic sufferers, and the interventions available, are similar no matter the official diagnosis. Tourette and other tic disorders are also often found occurring alongside ADHD, OCD, learning disabilities, or anxiety.
Tics can start and stop spontaneously, though exhaustion, excitement, stress, and anxiety (and even talking about them or pointing them out) can make tics worse. Tics vary greatly and can range from mild and barely noticeable to severe and majorly disruptive. Verbal tics can include throat clearing, coughing, whistling, repeating sounds or words or the very rare coprolalia (yelling offensive words).
Physical tics can involve head rolls, eye blinking, shrugging, hand movements, eye movements, etc. Tics can become painful, exhausting, and, at times, all-consuming. They can even qualify a person for disability in some cases.
Stigma surrounds those who deal with Tourette’s and other tic disorders. Most well-known is the idea that Tourette’s only causes people to yell out obscenities, and it is often used as an excuse or as the butt of a joke. In truth, coprolalia is extremely rare among people with Tourette Syndrome, and that stereotype can be harmful.
In addition, some may believe that people engage in tics for attention, or because they can temporarily repress the urge to tic in some situations that they must be faking it. Uncontrollable tics can make children more at risk for bullying. They can also affect education, whether the tics disrupt the classroom and/or concentration or medications cause attention issues. Many children and adolescents with tics are eligible for accommodations in school as a result.
While treatments exist for this condition, there is no known cure. Certain therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), can help provide people with a feeling of control over their tics. Others choose (or require) medications. Speech therapy can help with minimizing vocal tics. For many, tics are a temporary issue they grow out of as adults or older adolescents, but then for others, they are a lifelong struggle.
Tourette Awareness Month aims to fight the stigma and educate people about life with Tourette Syndrome, and to help them advocate for any needed accommodations. It also seeks to provide support and encouragement for those affected by all tic disorders. If you suspect that you or someone you know may have Tourette Syndrome, be sure to review some of the links provided and contact a doctor – there is help out there!
