Thanks to the age of social media, topics that are traditionally taboo are able to be discussed and shared online – connecting people and their experiences worldwide. Mental health is a perfect example of this. Numerous mental health professionals have created safe, online spaces where people are receiving information, education, and support – filling a necessary void. But this shift in social society has also awakened us all to the fact that mental health is one of the many things that connects us all. And it’s become abundantly clear over the past 18 months that we all experience mental and emotional challenges and can benefit from professional help. However, finding the right kind of help is challenging in and of itself. That’s where we come in.
Behavioral Health Is…
Behavioral health is sometimes used interchangeably with mental health but it’s more than that. Behavioral health looks at the correlation between a person’s behaviors and their mental and physical well-being. For example, poor eating behaviors that contribute to a person’s obesity leading to poor mental health leading to continued poor eating habits… and it begins a never-ending cycle.
What We Provide…
In addition to our other services, we provide short- and long-term outpatient therapy, case management and connection to community resources to those dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use. We are also proud to offer legal name change assistance and surgical letter writing services for transgender patients.
Effects of the Pandemic…
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdowns and job losses that followed, young people in the United States were already experiencing a mental health crisis. Between 2008 and 2018, anxiety increased dramatically, with nearly 7% of adults and 15% of young adults reporting anxiety in 2018, with the highest increase among those ages 18-25. Meanwhile, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that the first, second and sixth leading causes of death in those ages 15-44 are drug overdoses, suicide, and alcohol-related liver disease, respectively.
As we’ve come through the pandemic, those who study mental health say we’re now at crisis point and that as many resources should be allocated to mental health as to physical health. However, because of the lingering imbalance in access to mental health services compared to physical health, as well as the stigmas that are still attached to mental health issues in many segments of society, people who are suffering often don’t feel comfortable talking to their friends, family, or primary health practitioner about what’s going on. Those closest to us are often simply not equipped with the expertise or perspective to answer deeply personal questions about gender identity, sexuality, or intimate partner violence.
When you or someone close to you needs help, you can always turn to Planned Parenthood of Delaware for compassionate and confidential mental health support. We believe everyone deserves access to high-quality therapy services regardless of their race, sexuality, gender identity, ability or any other status or identity. To make an appointment at any of our Delaware locations, you can schedule online or call us at 1-800-230-PLAN (7562).
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