Mental health awareness is becoming more accepted, but it’s important to know how, when and where to seek help

Many people have something they are internally dealing with, ranging from general stress to severe mental illness, and, according to experts, accepting that something is wrong is the first step to seeking help and getting on the road to recovery. With the additional problems created by COVID-19, mental health professionals are trying to keep up, encouraging individuals to seek help from the many resources available.

“I mostly deal with adult patients for a variety of different illnesses from depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders, pretty much everything,” says Dr. Zach Pettibone, a psychiatrist at the Lindner Center of HOPE. “A lot of emotional distress with acute stressors.”

Pettibone says that many of his patients have struggled with mental health issues for years and that some kind of traumatic event, like the pandemic, can create an even heavier mental burden that requires them to seek advanced treatment.

“I’d say a significant amount of our patients have struggled with chronic mental illness and are reaching out to us for help because things have really gotten worse. Maybe they were doing well for a time, their symptoms were in remission, but then something stressful came along and their symptoms had a relapse,” says Pettibone. “Other people who’ve never had mental illness their entire life, various reasons or circumstances [have] led them to have symptoms now.”

According to Pettibone, stressors or triggers are becoming more prevalent as the pandemic continues, leading to prolonged isolation for individuals, accompanied with growing issues at home or work.

“There are some people who are just skirting by, maybe there’s other stresses already, job stress, family stress, financial stress, so it’s kind of the straw that broke the camel’s back,” says Pettibone.

“I’d say we’re seeing more anxiety and I definitely see more depression, and a lot of that depression is brought on by people being much more isolated, socially,” says Diane Mushaben, a specialty treatment coordinator for TriHealth. “It’s been harder for people to cope because having good social closeness to others, connections, that’s part of what helps us stay resilient.”

Mushaben thinks one positive thing the pandemic has led to is that people feel more encouraged in seeking treatment. Mental health officials say the stigma of mental illness is deteriorating due to societal progression and greater acceptance from friends and family.

“The perception that it’s something supposed to be hidden, that it’s some kind of mark of weakness or embarrassment, is something in our culture that I think is changing. It’s becoming more accepted, more recognized,” says Pettibone.

Finding where to start seeking mental help may seem difficult for individuals, but mental health officials want the public to know there are several accessible options. TriHealth, amongst several other health care providers, is part of a preemptive mental health strategy that partners with businesses across the region in promoting mental health awareness through a program called Employee Assistance Program, or EAP.

This program provides employees with a direct line of communication with mental health professionals, creating a known place where people can reach out to in times of need.

“The employee just calls us directly and we get them patched up either with one of us in of our offices, or we even have affiliated practitioners in the community that might be more convenient for some people but it never costs the employee anything directly, which makes it really accessible,” says Mushaben.

Pettibone says seeking help by talking with friends or family members could be a good start but sometimes that isn’t always enough and advanced treatment is likely the next option. “Tapping into your core social support network sometimes isn’t enough for people and professional help is needed,” he says. “We have understanding and vast expertise and experience working with a wide range of people. When you go to counseling you’re getting the expertise of somebody who’s highly trained to be able to really hear your concern and really help you identify where the roadblocks are, where the barriers are, that keep getting you stuck.”

If a mental illness needs to be further addressed beyond general counseling, there are many outpatient and even inpatient options that would allow for individuals to check into a more long-term facility.

“We have what’s called residential treatment, where a person comes in for up to a month or more to get in-depth testing and treatment to really get to the bottom of what’s causing their problems,” says Pettibone. “There is also a program called Coping with Crisis. It’s five days to therapeutic restart as we call it and is something new started after COVID. [Patients are] in on a Monday, discharged on a Saturday. There’s spiritual care, a nutritionist. It’s a realistic approach to getting people back on track.”

Pettibone is hopeful that more people are feeling more comfortable with seeking the help they need, but knows that it’s ultimately up to the individual to accept it.

“A lot of people struggle with these problems and I think breaking down those barriers is empowering people to reach out and get help,” he says.

If you or someone you know would like to connect with someone regarding mental illness please call 1-800-720-9616 to connect. The COVID CareLine is a new, toll-free number and emotional support call service created by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Behavioral health professionals staff the CareLine from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. They offer confidential support in times of personal crisis when individuals may be struggling to cope with current challenges in their lives. After 8 p.m., the CareLine will forward to the National Suicide Prevention Helpline, allowing those calling to have access to someone 24 hours a day.