D.C. This public awareness campaign seeks to help DC residents understand the true nature of mental illness, how important it is to get the right treatment as soon as possible, and where to get help. The campaign is funded by a grant from the DC Commission on Mental Health Services. In spite of this, people often suffer needlessly due to lack of early intervention and treatment. Mental illnesses are real - real, treatable illnesses and, overall, the chances of treating mental illness successfully are higher than successfully treating heart disease.
Mental illness is common - more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.
In one out of every five families, someone suffers from a serious mental illness at some point in time. Schizophrenia - the most debilitating disorder, affects the thinking and behavior of more than 2 million Americans. GET HELP NOW People with mental illness often suffer needlessly because they don't receive treatment - even though treatments for these disorders are as effective as treatments for many other physical illnesses. Getting treatment at the first signs of illness can prevent suicide, progression of mental illness, and even hospitalization - and, like heart disease or diabetes, the longer these disorders remain untreated, the harder they are to treat. Mental illness can begin at a very early age - in childhood, it can influence how the brain develops and how children interact with family, teachers, and friends.