Mental health issues touch all of us. Yet many of us feel ashamed to talk about emotional challenges. Due to stigma, we feel that needing support means we’re weak or abnormal. So we don’t get the mental health help we need.
And yet, emotional distress happens, often beyond our control. People around the world face:
And of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on everyone. The grief and isolation it has left in its wake has worsened symptoms for many. Teens especially continue to struggle.
When you break your leg or get a rash, you see a specialist. Likewise, a responsible person gets mental healthcare for serious depression and anxiety.
You deserve to care for your mental health as much as you do for your physical health.
Serious disorders require professional care. And effective treatments do exist. They may not be as simple or as straightforward as a pill or a shot. But they can help you manage and live your best.
See UVA Health specialty services in behavioral health.
If you’re in crisis, like thinking about suicide, call the free, anonymous hotline: 800-273-8255
Not sure where to start? The articles here can help you learn:
Teens can often be irritable, angst-filled, sensitive to criticism and want to sleep a lot. What separates “normal” teen expression from behavior parents should worry about?
Seasonal affective disorder may go away naturally, but don't ride out the winter months feeling blue. There are changes you can make and treatments available that can help overcome this mild depression.
Feeling down on occasion is normal. But when you feel bouts of sadness, hopelessness, irritability or disinterest lasting for more than two weeks, it may be depression. Know the difference between depression and the blues – and why you need to get help.
Helping a sleepless tween figure out to manage stress, anxiety, and insomnia isn't easy. So I took my kid to see Dr. Way, who gave her a yoga prescription. My daughter learned to meditate, stretch, and take care of her worried thoughts. And now we're both less stressed. This is a story every parent should read.
There’s much more to healthcare than preventing and treating diseases. Patients often deal with inadequate health insurance, untreated mental illness, family problems. Often, a social worker is the first step toward getting help.
Recognizing and managing your anxiety can help prevent panic attacks. When you have the tools for dealing with panic attacks, you'll feel better equipped to handle cancer treatment in general.
Teens turn to cutting and other forms of self-harm to ease stress. Teen self-harm requires parents to help their kids cope. Dyan Aretakis of the UVA Teen & Young Adult Health Center offers tips on how to get started.
Like many mental illnesses, anxiety often gets categorized as a problem easily fixed. The fact is, anxiety disorders are real, and they require real treatment. This infographic addresses common myths about anxiety that often prevent people from taking it seriously and getting treated.
What is your parenting style? Are you helping your child learn good decision-making? Get tips on how to help your child become an independent, healthy adult.
Now 50 years old, Karen remembers depression as a major factor in her life since she was 12. After college, she followed a fairly normal trajectory: She got married and started a family. But Karen’s inner life was anything but normal.
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