Mental Illness Awareness Week is Oct. 5-11. It is a time to learn symptoms of major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other conditions.

One in four adults and one in five children and teens experience mental health problem ever year. Onehalf of chronic mental illness starts by age 14 and three-quarters by age 24.

Early identification and treatment can make a difference. Information about symptoms and treatment is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org or its HelpLine at (800) 950-6264.

Election Day will be here in a month. During MIAW, please look at every candidate’s pamphlets or website to see what they say about mental health care. Access to psychiatric care in Maine is limited but the number of families struggling with mental illness is not. Mental Illness impacts the individual, the family and the community. We need improved access to both evaluation and treatment before people get into “crisis” and need inpatient care. We need our elected officials and Maine’s Hospitals to tackle this issue aggressively to improve the stability of people living with mental illness and to help the caregivers who act as their support team.

The more people know about mental illness, the better they can help themselves, their families and their communities. MIAW is a time to learn and to help make a difference.

Cortney Linville
Bath