Hope That Has Led Me Out of the Darkness

"In a way, that's been the key to my still going strong for all these years. Every time I reach out beyond myself--to my family and friends, to my doctor, to my coworkers and the public to whom we bring the news, to the whole community of people who battle depressive disorders, and to the one i have turned to ever since I was a boy in Brookline--I find hope that has led me out of the darkness."

These words from Mike Wallace highlight a key part of dealing with and recovering from mental illness: reaching out to others for help and support. (For a more detailed story, see Mike Wallace: Speaking to a Nation).

Next week is National Mental Illness Awareness Week, and Thursday is National Depression Screening Day. Both of these times are occasions to educate yourself about mental illness and recognize how you or someone you know may be feeling the effects. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a great place to start. The more you know, the more you can help reduce the stigma around mental illness, and the barriers to getting help.

If you're looking for help and support, remember that during Mental Illness Awareness Week, your first session is FREE at Pfeiffer Institute Reach! We offer low cost individual, couple, and family therapy, and for the first full week of October, the first session is FREE! Call 919-941-2900 or email contact@pfeifferreach.org today!

Mental Illness Awareness Week at Pfeiffer Institute Reach

Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 6-12, 2013 (see http://www.nami.org/miaw for more information). What does it mean to be aware of mental illness? What does this have to do with you? Hopefully you will find useful suggestions here.

According to the National Organization on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in four adults will experience a mental illness in a given year. That means approximately 65.1 million Americans will be affected. It is likely you or someone you love will face a mental illness at some point. Awareness -- and the courage to act on it -- is the first step toward help and coping. 

What does awareness entail? Pay attention: are you feeling down more than usual and for longer periods of time? Is your loved one so concerned that he is unable to do the things he enjoys? Are your mood swings from super-excited to super-down getting you in trouble at work? Do nightmares and flashbacks keep your partner awake throughout the night?

After awareness comes action. What can you do? You can get answers, or at least suggestions about where to find answers, by doing a screening at Pfeiffer Institute Reach. If you have concerns for yourself or someone else, the week of October 6-12 is the perfect time to check it out, no commitment or purchase necessary! Pfeiffer Institute Reach will offer free screenings and a free session with a clinician to review the results of the screening. Call to schedule an appointment or send an email to contact@pfeifferreach.org and we will help find a time for you to come in. 

The screening (four short questionnaires) will assess for symptoms of four common problems: depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder. Don't let the word "disorder" frighten you away. It's just psychological shorthand for a collection of symptoms that are interfering with daily life. This might include being so depressed you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, or so anxious you feel like you are having a heart attack.

If you have questions, please call or email today to make your free appointment. The screening is free, as is the optional session to review the results with a clinician. Awareness, action, answers. Pfeiffer Institute Reach. 

Reach  for a better tomorrow.

FREE SCREENING SESSION DURING NATIONAL DEPRESSION SCREENING WEEK

In recognition of National Depression Screening Day (Oct. 10), Pfeiffer Institute Reach will offer free screenings and reviews with a clinician FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK. Screenings, which can remain anonymous, include measures assessing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Participants can choose to review their results with a clinician, who can offer potential resources. 

All of this for FREE! Appointments are encouraged but not necessary.