Rural Health, Inc. Encourages Early Awareness and Action During Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health is a fundamental part of daily life. It influences how we think, feel, interact with others, and navigate the world around us. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Rural Health, Inc., urges residents to understand the importance of noticing early signs of mental health concerns and how to respond and seek treatment if needed.

Mental illnesses are medical conditions involving changes in emotion, appetite, thinking, or behavior that can affect daily functioning. From housing and work to relationships and community, mental health touches every part of our lives. Early support, including access to stable housing, employment assistance, healthcare, and community programs, improves long-term stability and well-being.

Serious mental illness can substantially interfere with major life activities, including work, school, relationships, and self-care. Typical signs of mental illness can include intense mood swings, persistent fear or anxiety, withdrawal from others, major changes in sleep or eating habits, and difficulty handling everyday stress. Other warning signs may involve increased substance use, confusion, or a sense of hopelessness. If left untreated, these symptoms can become more severe.

The CDC reported that surveys conducted in the U.S. in 2024 of adults age 18 and older concluded that:

• Over 12% experienced regular feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety.
• Roughly 5% reported having regular feelings of depression.
• Over 57 million office visits to a healthcare provider documented mental disorders as the primary diagnosis.
• Over 48,800 suicide deaths resulted from a mental disorder.

Seeking treatment for mental health disorders often involves therapy, medication, or a combination. Rural Health, Inc. encourages you to talk with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about yours, or a loved one’s, mental health and ask for a referral for care and treatment as needed.

To learn more and/or to schedule an appointment with a provider at Rural Health, Inc., call 618-833-4471 or visit ruralhealthinc.org for a list of providers in Anna, Dongola, Goreville, Metropolis, and Vienna.

Rural Health, Inc. (RHI) is a not-for-profit organization serving Johnson, Massac, and Union counties in Illinois, designated by the federal government as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), whose mission is to provide quality services to all patients in need of healthcare while being committed to the overall health and well-being of the underserved.

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