*requires Acrobat Reader. Click here to obtain a free copy

MONTGOMERY – Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation Commissioner Kathy Sawyer and Associate Commissioner for Mental Illness Kimberly Ingram urge all Alabamians to pay close attention to their mental and emotional health during Wise Health Consumer Month. "It is critically important that we all look for changes in our minds and bodies," Ingram said. "Many studies have indicated that health consumers who consult with healthcare professionals at the earliest signs of trouble recover much more quickly."

"Being a wise health consumer is important," Sawyer said. "Wise health consumers understand that maintaining good health is of paramount importance. Wise health consumers are not embarrassed or ashamed to seek treatment for mental health needs because they understand the critically important link between mental and physical health." Dr. David Satcher, Surgeon General of the United States, reports that at least one in five Americans will be touched by mental illness during their lifetime. "Armed with statistics indicating that mental illness is very common and knowledge that mental illness is very treatable, health consumers everywhere can and should take notice," Ingram said.

Understanding that mental illness is a no-fault biological brain disease is critical to reducing the stigma most people with mental illness encounter every day. "Mental illness can strike men or women, at any age, of any race regardless of income or education level," Sawyer said. "We must not let fear, false beliefs, and myths about mental illness deter us from getting help if we need it."

Dr. Satcher also reports that fear of stigma (negative attitudes) is one of the main reasons people fail to seek mental health care. "No one would ever suggest that an individual with a serious physical illness like diabetes should be embarrassed or ashamed to regulate their condition with insulin and/or dietary restrictions. Likewise, no individual seeking needed mental health treatment should ever be ashamed or embarrassed to treat their mental illness. In fact, these consumers should be applauded for placing a high priority on their health and quality of life," Ingram said.

Contact information for your local Community Mental Health Center is available from the DMH/MR Bureau of Mental Illness Community Programs at (334) 242-3200 or the DMH/MR Office of Public Information & Community Relations at (334) 242-3417.