This article is a part of a series focusing on the mental health of health care workers that will continue into Mental Health Awareness Month in May. If you would like to share your mental health story with others, email Steve Wengel, MD, assistant vice chancellor for Wellness, UNMC and UNO, and/or Sarah Richards, MD, senior medical director, Care Experience, Nebraska Medicine.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. But even with a focus on mental health, in times of stress or anxiety it can be hard to decide when to reach out for help. This week, we explore some common questions about seeking help for mental health issues.
How do I know when it’s time to get help?
The American Psychological Association suggests considering therapy when something causes distress and interferes with some part of life, particularly when:
- Thinking about or coping with the issue takes up at least an hour each day
- The issue causes embarrassment or makes you want to avoid others
- The issue has caused your quality of life to decrease
- The issue has negatively affected school, work, or relationships
If you experience any of the following, therapy may help you reduce their effects.
- Intrusions (nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts)
- Hyper-arousal (anxiety, insomnia, irritability, etc.)
- Avoiding reminders of a traumatic event
- Avoiding feelings by using substances
- Feeling numb, spaced out or like things aren’t real
What forms of treatment are available?
- Counseling or psychotherapy: These are forms of “talk therapy,” as it is sometimes called, and can be very helpful on their own or combined with other forms of treatment, including psychotropic medications. Counseling and psychotherapy are performed by clinical psychologists, social workers and other counseling staff.
- Psychotropic medication, such as antidepressants, mood stabilizing medications, and others: These can be prescribed by your primary care provider (if they are comfortable with this) or a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
- Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment: The goal is to help you regain your mental health, achieve your recovery goals and restore your life to maximum functional capacity. Treatment might include visits with a psychiatrist or an addiction medicine specialist, medications approved for substance use disorders, individual psychotherapy sessions, group therapy sessions or an intensive outpatient program (IOP).
How common are mental health issues?
According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year. Furthermore, 46 percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life. Studies suggest that these rates have been higher during the pandemic.
A Pew Research Center poll conducted in February 2021 found that 31% of U.S. adults felt nervous, anxious or on edge and that 22% felt depressed three or more days per week.
Locally here at the med center, reports of symptoms of anxiety ranged from 22 to 44% and depressive symptoms ranged from 26 to 49% between July and October 2020.
Why don’t people get the help they need?
Only about 40% of people with mental health issues get help. Untreated mental health issues often get worse and may have other negative effects.
There are many common barriers to getting help:
Stigma: “Only weak people go to counseling.”
Remember: These are normal reactions and you are not alone. Many others are experiencing the same things.
Pride: “This is my job. I shouldn’t be having this reaction.”
Remember: You are a human being, and human beings have these reactions.
Embarrassment: “Everyone will think something is wrong with me.”
Remember: It takes courage to ask for help. You can be a role model.
Internal Resources
Peers in Need of Support (PINS) program (Nebraska Medicine and UNMC only)
- Confidential 1:1 support from a trained colleague
- Email PINS or complete this confidential form.
Arbor Family Counseling
- Employee Assistance Program for Nebraska Medicine and UNMC
- 402-330-0960 or 1-800-922-7379
- Arborfamilycounseling.com
House Officers Assistance Program
Student Counseling and Development Center
If you are not sure where to turn for help or what type of assistance is right for you, call our Behavioral Health Connection line at 1-402-836-9292 Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Our trained navigators will help connect you with the right resources
External Resources
Suicide Prevention Helpline
- 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals
- 1-800-273-8255
Please remember: It is OK to not be OK. It is OK ask for help.
Steve Wengel, MD, assistant vice chancellor for Wellness, UNMC and UNO
David Cates, PhD, director of Behavioral Health, Nebraska Medicine
Sarah Richards, MD, senior medical director, Care Experience, Nebraska Medicine