Mental health awareness is something this nation is starting to give more priority to, and for good reason. In the US alone, around 20% of adults have some sort of mental illness. It's important to receive mental health therapy if you believe you have problems with your own mental health, or to have services given to family members who you believe have mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, bipolar conditions, or even narcissism and other illnesses.

Here are reasons why mental health therapy is essential. If you or someone in your family has thoughts of suicide or harming yourself or others, contact emergency authorities immediately so you can be referred to the correct counseling and assistance.

Mental issues lead to unhealthy choices

Often, drug or substance abuse or alcoholism go hand-in-hand with mental illness. If you are drinking more frequently to help you go to sleep, slow your mind down, calm anxieties, escape from the world, or even socialize, then mental health therapy can help you learn better ways to cope. Likewise, if you worry about abusing medications or using illegal substances in order to live your day-to-day life, then seeing a mental health psychologist will be helpful.

A mental health psychologist can prescribe healthy and beneficial medication to help you cope daily and can monitor and adjust your usage as needed as well. Some mental illnesses, such as anxiety or depression, can be treated with prescription medication successfully.

Mental issues lead to loss of self-care

If a mental health issue isn't properly addressed, the sufferer can become more and more unable to care for their family, themselves, or even go to work or school. A disease or condition left to heal on its own often will just get worse, and this is the case with mental health issues. With mental health therapy, you can not only learn to live with your unique mental self but how to thrive as well.

Coping tactics that include cognitive therapy, exercise, or even the inclusion of a distracting hobby can help you feel better about the mind you're in. Write down the concerns you have about your mental health and share them with a mental health psychologist. The more open and honest you are in your sessions, and the longer you continue them, the more grip you can have on your mental health and overall well-being. Your insurance may help cover mental health therapy, and if you don't have insurance, financial assistance may be available to help you pay for services.