According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 21 million adults in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in the past year, representing 8.3 percent of all U.S. adults. Major depression includes a period of at least two weeks when a person experiences a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities along with specified symptoms such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, or self-worth. Another 19.1 percent of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder in the past year. The National Institute of Mental Health reported anxiety disorder is higher for women at 23.4 percent and 14.3 percent in males, though this does not mean women are weaker but rather that women may feel things more deeply than men sometimes.
Importance of Professional Support
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Those who suffer from mental health issues should know it is acceptable to be sad, scared, or confused sometimes, and professional help can make a critical difference. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness but one of the most difficult and important things a person can do. One individual, after suffering a nervous breakdown in May with an overstimulated nervous system, loss of loved ones, loss of employment, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and complex PTSD, sought help at a counseling center. Weekly counseling has helped significantly, providing relief and allowing the person to feel much better overall, though still having tougher days at times.
Available Resources
Multiple mental health providers are available for support. Options include local counseling centers, behavioral health hospitals, community health organizations, and crisis services. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline can be called or texted for immediate help, with chat available at 988lifeline.org. The national SAMHSA helpline is available at 800-662-4357. Treatment resources and providers can be found through FindTreatment.gov. Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 by Mental Health America to highlight the importance of mental health, educate the public, and celebrate recovery.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://news-journal.com/2026/05/09/barbe-its-ok-to-ask-for-help/