Why Mental Health Matters: Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month
Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! :) As described by the American Counseling Association, this month is about reducing the stigma associated with mental health, supporting those who struggle with mental illness, and advocating for policies on behalf of individuals with mental illness and their loved ones.
I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the prevalence of mental illness, define the different types of helping professionals, debunk some common misconceptions about therapy, and provide you with a list of mental health resources. Insha’Allah (God-willing), I hope this post facilitates open conversations about mental health and propels those who want to seek help to take that next step.
Mental Health Statistics
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. The definition of mental illness in this case is any disorder that is diagnosable from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 4th edition (DSM-IV) and ranges from mild to severe. Note that there is a newer version of the DSM utilized currently (DSM-5).
The following are key statistics garnered from this survey:
Of U.S. adults who have a mental illness, only 44.8% of them received mental health services
The prevalence of any mental illness and the utilization of mental health services were both higher in females versus males
Individuals of two or more races had the highest prevalence of any mental illness (31.7%)
The prevalence of any mental illness was lowest in Asian Americans (14.4%)
The prevalence of any mental illness amongst adolescents aged 13 to 18 was 49.5%
What stood out to me in this data is the potential underreporting of mental illness and underutilization of services amongst men and Asian Americans. In both populations, there has been a stigma associated with mental health and seeking support, which could have contributed to these results. Additionally, it’s important to note one major limitation with this data: This survey includes individuals who had a diagnosable illness. There are several individuals who struggle with mental health related concerns and seek support but don’t have a diagnosable condition. Therefore, the numbers provided in this survey may be understated. Overall, mental health related concerns are significant across the board in terms of gender, age, and race/ethnicity.
Another interesting point to note is the impact of Covid-19 on mental health. According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from June 24th, 2020 to June 30th, 2020, 40% of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse. Some factors that could have contributed to this stark increase in mental health issues include financial stressors, loss of routine (e.g., school, commute to work), social isolation, and higher risk for intimate partner and/or family violence. Now more than ever, it’s vital that we prioritize our mental health by seeking help if we need it.
Where Do I Begin?
Starting therapy can seem like an overwhelming undertaking. How do I find a therapist? Where do I even look? Does this therapist take my insurance? What will therapy be like? I hope that in the following sections, I can help guide you in the process.
Different Types Of Mental Health Professionals[i]
The following are some of the main types of mental health professionals we often hear about. I’ve heard so many friends and family utilize these professions interchangeably. However, there are some key distinctions between them. Knowing these differences can help you make an informed decision when choosing a therapist.
Professional Counselor
Professional counselors are licensed individuals who work in a variety of settings (e.g., colleges, hospitals, clinics, private practices, and schools). Professional counselors approach counseling from a wellness and prevention perspective. Specifically, professional counselors work with clients to overcome developmental and unexpected life changes, come to terms with their environment, adjust to foreign situations, and find ways to improve the quality of clients’ lives. In Texas, a professional counselor who is licensed will have the following credential: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Marriage and Family Therapist
Marriage and family therapists are licensed individuals who work with individuals, couples, and families from a systems theory perspective. They focus on their clients’ interactional patterns and emphasize circular causality (i.e., A influences B and B influences A). Similar to professional counselors, marriage and family therapists adopt a wellness-oriented perspective. In Texas, a marriage and family therapist who is licensed will have the following credential: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
Social Worker
Social workers are committed to pursuing social reform, social justice, and impacting public policy. Social workers can work in a variety of settings. In addition to affecting change at a systemic level, some social workers choose to pursue clinical mental health counseling. Social workers in Texas who follow a clinical path must obtain licensure to conduct therapy. In Texas, they will have the following credential: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Psychologists
Psychologists typically work in a variety of settings, including schools, clinics, hospitals, counseling centers, and private and group practice. Psychologists rely heavily on interviews and psychological testing to assess and diagnose clients. Psychologists typically have a doctoral degree in psychology and can specialize in clinical, counseling, or school psychology. Psychologists will typically have a PhD or a PsyD (i.e, Doctor or Psychology).
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who primarily work with clients who have severe mental illnesses. Aside from providing psychotherapy, their medical degree allows them to prescribe medications, perform physical examinations, and order laboratory testing. Psychiatrists will typically have an MD or DO credential.
To summarize, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and clinical social workers typically utilize a developmental, wellness-oriented, holistic, and preventive lens to engage with their clients. Psychologists provide therapy and are trained to assess and diagnose using psychological instruments. Psychiatrists usually focus more on medication management with individuals who have severe mental illnesses and less on talk therapy. Remember, these are generalizations! Every mental health professional is unique in what they have to offer. The most important thing is finding the right fit for you.
Some Common Misconceptions About Therapy
The following are five misconceptions about therapy I’ve heard from various people. This list is certainly not inclusive, but I believe are pretty common.
Therapy is just like talking to a friend.
Therapy sounds like a conversation between two people. It’s understandable that people may think it’s similar to talking to a close friend or family member. The comment/question I hear from people is, “I have close friends. Why should I pay to see a therapist?” In contrast to a normal conversation between two friends, the therapeutic conversation is unique in that it’s not a regular two-way conversation. The therapist is there for YOUR benefit. The focus of the conversation will be on you and the therapist’s responses are carefully constructed to facilitate your growth and awareness. Therapists have also gone through extensive training and supervision that allows them to objectively assess, treat, and engage in a therapeutic relationship with you. Speaking with a licensed professional is unlike any other conversation you would have in your regular day-to-day life.
Therapists give advice.
In the therapy world, advice-giving is a huge no-no most of the time. That being said, suggestions can be made in a tentative manner. The important concept behind this notion is autonomy. Therapists are bound by a code of ethics that recognizes autonomy as an ethical principle to be upheld. When therapists give advice or direct you to take some kind of action, they are taking away your autonomy. The therapeutic relationship has made a gradual shift over time from an expert-client relationship to a more egalitarian relationship. Regardless of theoretical orientation, a good therapist will respect your right to choose and facilitate the process of allowing you to trust your own decision-making.
I don’t need therapy since I don’t have a mental illness.
There is so much more to therapy than diagnosis and treatment of a mental illness. While diagnosis has its pros and cons, the complexity of the human mind encompasses much more than a diagnosis. Whether we suffer from a diagnosed mental illness or not, there are challenges and life transitions that are universal to all humans. Simply having someone who is willing to hear your story can be life-altering.
Therapy will always make me feel good.
While therapy certainly shouldn’t leave you worse off than when you came in, I would be lying if I said therapy is always a positive experience. Sometimes the self-awareness gained in therapy leads to feelings of discomfort. During these moments, the therapist will sit with you in your pain and facilitate your growth and transformation. This therapeutic relationship is what makes the biggest impact in therapy.
Therapists have their lives together and don’t need therapy.
This couldn’t be further from the truth! Therapists have highs and lows, good days and bad days, and are ethically required to maintain their well-being in order to provide adequate care to their clients. Self-care is part of their ethical codes! Additionally, it’s highly likely that your therapist is seeing his or her own therapist. They understand what it’s like to be in your shoes as a client. Although it’s impossible to completely erase the inherent power differential between therapist and client, it’s important to remember that therapists are humans just like everyone else.
Common Reasons To Go To Therapy
The following are some common reasons someone might go to therapy. There are definitely more reasons beyond this list, but these are some more general ones:
Adjusting to life changes (e.g., marriage, divorce, birth of a child, a move, new job)
Processing and healing from traumatic events
Grief and loss
Coping with a terminal illness
Exploring career-related issues
Emotional regulation
Relief of distressing symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety)
Grappling with painful emotions (e.g., guilt, shame)
Learning adaptive coping strategies
Desire to improve interpersonal relationships (e.g., romantic, familial)
Desire to increase feelings of self-worth
General self-improvement
How to Find a Therapist
So you’ve decided you want to try out therapy. Now what? When I was first searching for a therapist, I started on the Psychology Today website. They have a large directory of therapists that you can filter by location, presenting concern, insurance, etc. After I narrowed down my search, I looked through some profiles and read their bios. If I liked what I read, I would check to see if the therapist had a website. If I browsed the website and liked what I saw, I’d reach out to them to see if I could set up an appointment. Keep in mind that therapists may have a full case load so you may need to email more than one therapist. Additionally, the first therapist you email may not be the right fit for you. When I moved to Austin, the first therapist I saw wasn’t a good fit for me. I searched for another one and found the right fit. It may seem time-consuming and daunting, but it’s worth it when you find your match and embark on this journey of self-discovery and growth.
Below I’ve listed some therapist directories. This list is certainly not all-inclusive, but I hope it helps get you started.
Therapist Directories
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
Muslim Association for Psychological Services: https://www.mapsnetwork.org/maps-dfw
Inclusive Therapists: https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/
South Asian Therapists: https://southasiantherapists.org/find-a-therapist/
Latinx Therapy: https://latinxtherapy.com/find-a-therapist/
Asian Mental Health Collective: https://www.asianmhc.org/apisaa
General Mental Health Resources
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Mental Health America: Text MHA to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
NAMI Helpline: 800-950-NAMI
Disaster Distress Helpline: 800-985-5990
Indigenous Services: https://www.ihs.gov/mentalhealth/
If you have any questions about any of the information I’ve provided or if you have general questions about the therapy process, please email info@muslimspace.org.
References
[i] Erford, B. T., Hays, D. G., & Crockett, S. A. (2020). Mastering the National Counselor Examination and the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (Third edition.). Pearson Education, Inc.
