Discovery Blog

On Sunday, Discovery Health launched Psych Week,  an initiative dedicated to helping increase understanding and end the stigma often associated with mental illness. A few of the alarming statistics I have learned from the National Institute of Mental Health:

• An estimated 26.2% of Americans 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
• Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44.
• Mental illness, including suicide, accounts for over 15% of the burden of disease in established economies (more than that caused by all cancers combined).

We took this opportunity not only to screen previews of some of the programming  for our employees at our HQ, but also to answer their questions about some of the mental health issues addressed in Psych Week — from anxiety to schizophrenia. Employees also had the opportunity to learn about easy practices that can reduce stress and put us on a path to balance and mental health, such as meditation and massage.

Whether you’re impacted by mental illness personally, professionally or through a family member or friend, I hope you’ll join us throughout Mental Health Month (and beyond) to spread awareness. I’ve included a few links below to some great resources:

• Discovery Health’s Mental Health Center
• Bring Change 2 Mind
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• PsychCentral.com
• HealthyWomen.org