Imagine this. Suddenly freaking out for no obvious reason. Tingling in every extremity of your body, from head to toe. Your chest so tight as if it’s about to explode and your heart beating as if it's going to jump out of your chest. Your vision blurring and feeling so lightheaded that you can’t move. Then suddenly, everything goes black. Battling your innermost fears in the worst of times, a panic attack.
     Anxiety is so common that 18 percent of the population every year is affected, but only 36.9 percent of those people receive treatment. Many face this battle alone and it is crucial that these statistics change. There are many problems in this world, but mental health is one that often times is overlooked. That is a mistake though, because raising awareness could not only release people from their suffering, but save lives. Every day, about 132 Americans die of suicide(according to ASFP). It is our duty, as Americans, to put an end to this.
     Anxiety is just one of the many mental struggles people are burdened with. There are endless disorders that many have never even heard of. However, this makes them no less important. People face depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, stress, panic disorder, sleep disorder, specific phobias, OCD, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This list can go on forever. And the worst part? According to Mental Health America, 57 percent of adults with a mental illness received no treatment. Additionally, only 28.8 percent of youth with severe depression received consistent treatment.
     Beyond this, many don’t realize or understand the intensity of these disorders and the mental anguish that people go through. This is a result from them being uneducated and ignorant to the seriousness of mental health. Some parents don’t even realize the hardships their teens are dealing with, and this is a very scary thought. Mental health shouldn’t be an issue that people feel embarrassed to seek help from a professional or uncomfortable sharing with those they love, and it definitely shouldn’t be one where they think they have nowhere to look for help. The only way to mend this is to raise awareness for both the uneducated as well as those going through it themselves, and encourage them to seek assistance through the resources available to them.
     Although there are many ways to raise awareness, some of the most crucial are for Americans to become educated on mental health, whether they are personally facing mental illness or not. There are organizations that people can look to such as National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America, as well as Anxiety and Depression Association of America. This is a great way to become familiar with mental health, and further research can always be done through the extensive source of the internet. Those who refuse to educate themselves have no excuse, as many have the opportunity with the touch of a few buttons.
     Additionally, those interested in further assisting in the cause can choose to donate to organizations raising awareness for mental health, fundraise and volunteer, as well as use their social media bases to promote the importance of mental health. Social media is a perfect way to get others involved in a worthy cause, like this.
     One of the most important responses though, is to take a chance to check on your loved ones. They may be facing something that you’d be aware of if you would just ask, and show them that they have your undying support. Those with mental illness need to feel like they have an outlet to help them, either through their family, friends, teachers, mentors, or medical assistance. They need to know that they are never alone, and that we, as Americans are in this fight together. This starts by raising awareness for mental health. Choose to be a leader and join a cause that could not only change, but save so many lives. It starts with you.