Mental
Health and Well-being Home Page
Mental Health
Is Important.
Mental health
is how people think, feel, and act as they face life's situations. It affects
how people handle stress, relate to one another, and make decisions. Mental
health influences the ways individuals look at themselves, their lives, and
others in their lives. Like physical health, mental health is important at every
stage of life.
Children and
Adolescents Can Have Serious Mental Health Problems.
Like adults,
children and adolescents can have mental health disorders that interfere with
the way they think, feel, and act. When untreated, mental health disorders can
lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and even
suicide. Untreated mental health disorders can be very costly to families,
communities, and the health care system.
Mental Health
Disorders Are More Common in Young People than Many Realize. Studies show
that at least one in five children and adolescents have a mental health
disorder. At least one in 10, or about 6 million people, have a serious
emotional disturbance.¹
¹ U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Mental Health: A Report of
the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Disclaimer: Online information found here
is made available so that individuals may find out whether consultation with a
counselor or doctor may be helpful. This is a help site and is not intended to
provide treatment, diagnosis, or consultation. This information does not replace
the advice of a doctor. This site host and developers disclaim any warranty or
liability for your use of this information.
For
information and warning signs about the following disorders, click on the topic
below:
DEPRESSION
BIPOLAR DISORDER
ANXIETY—including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
EATING DISORDERS
SUICIDE AWARENESS & PREVENTION
CUTTING
DATING VIOLENCE
For
help or more information contact any of the following individuals, groups, or
agencies:
--Guidance Counselors—
| High School | Katie Fistler | 421-4426 (Mason City Alternative School) | |
| Dave Jacobson | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Dusty Rhodes | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Karla Wymore | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Middle School | Sara Bucknam | 421-4423 (Roosevelt Middle School) | |
| Gina Friederich | 421-4420 (John Adams Middle Schoo) | ||
| Elementary | Sarah Despenas | 421-4406 (Harding) or 421-4411 (Jefferson) |
|
--Family physician or local/area clinic
--Family services, social
agencies, or clergy
--Check the phone book under
“mental health”, “health”, “social services”, “hotlines” or “physicians” for
phone numbers and addresses.
An
emergency room doctor also can provide temporary help and can tell you where and
how to get further help.
FOR
AFTER HOURS HELP CALL:
24
Hours Daily—Confidential--Free
National Suicide
Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Teen Help Line:
1-800-443-8336
Teen Help Line is not a crisis
or “hotline”. The line provides health information & referral services for
Iowa teens.
If
you are thinking of harming yourself or know someone who is, tell someone who
can help immediately.
--Call your doctor.
--Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room to get immediate help or ask a friend or family member to help you do these things.
--Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline number for the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
--Make sure you or the suicidal person is not left alone.
HELPFUL LINKS—What is mental
illness?
National Alliance on Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/About_Mental_Illness.htm
National Mental Health Information Center
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0004/default.asp
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
www.healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-WhatIsMentalIllness.pdf