At Arise Psychiatry, we are seeking to provide you with the mental healthcare you deserve. It is so important for us to take care of ourselves holistically and not just focus on our physical needs or submerge ourselves into our daily routine and stressful environment. Thoughts and emotions control so much of our overall health and well-being, and you deserve excellent care in order to obtain mental health balance.
Depression is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States and suicide is the 12th leading cause of death across all age groups. When segmented into age groups, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for individuals between 10 – 35 years old. The statistics are shocking and show that it is especially important to prioritize preventing suicide.
So how can suicide be prevented?
Awareness and education about internal stressors, usually psychiatric conditions such as depression, and suicidal thoughts is one of the main ways to prevent suicide. Individuals typically do not wake up and decide to commit suicide. It happens over time, and often begins with a difficult life situation and/or emotion.
When an individual goes through a stressful life event coupled with a mood disorder, this causes a cascade of thoughts, that impact their mental health. Some of those thoughts are common and normal, and if we do not know this, and how to redirect them, we can feel increasingly isolated, further developing depression or worsening of these thoughts. When our mental health is out of balance and depressive or negative thoughts are taking over, it takes a toll on our physical body as well, further creating a feeling of hopelessness.
Research shows better results in preventing suicide by creating awareness, directly educating our youth and general practitioners, and receiving mental healthcare earlier. It is important for individuals of all ages to know that feelings of sadness, alienation, and hopelessness could be normal if caught on time and can be changed with the right support.
Mental health professionals, including myself, focus on changing and rerouting paths in the brain to improve the way we think, and how it affects our mood, before those thoughts, patterns or behaviors become larger issues, through neuroplasticity. It is important to get help early in the development of thought patterns, so they do not create a snowball effect in the brain, affecting our lives.
Arise Psychiatry is a safe place to discuss any difficult thoughts or emotions with a trained and resourced care team. We can provide the support needed to correct harmful thought patterns and maintain a positive mental health balance.
By: A. Johanna Lu, MD, ABPN
Psychiatrist, Co-Founder and Medical Director
#mentalhealthcareyoudeserve #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #normalizementhalhealthcare
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