Mental Illness Crisis and Opportunity

Barrington, IL- In recognition of national Mental Illness Awareness Week, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital is hosting a Behavior Health Symposium on Friday, October 5, 9 am - 12:30 pm. The Office for Mission and Spiritual Care at Advocate Good Shepherd has teamed up with counselors, physicians, and leaders in our community to bring you the latest information on mental and behavioral health. 

The event will feature Hugh Brady, President of the Board for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), as a keynote speaker along with other mental health board members and physicians within the community.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the country’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of millions of Americans through community outreach, education, and advocacy. 

According to a recent survey, one in four Americans—approximately 57.7 million people—are diagnosed with some form of mental disorder.  Mental illness includes: depression, anxiety, bi-polar, schizophrenia, boarder-line personality, and obsessive compulsive disorders among many others. Mental illness accounts for more disability claims than do both cancer and heart disease in America, resulting in an estimated loss of $255.4 billion annually. 

Although, there is no cure for mental illness, proper treatment plans that incorporate medication and talk therapy can be highly effective.  Up to 90% of patients who obtain treatment recover from their symptoms.  However, about two thirds of those diagnosed go without treatment. This is usually due to their inability to access necessary care or the stigma associated with mental illness in society. 

Mental disorders are real, treatable health conditions. The best recovery is achieved through the patients’ will to improve and their active participation in a treatment plan. Be informed and empowered when it comes to your mental health.  Also, know that there are support systems and resources available in your community.

The Behavior Health Symposium will be held in the Prairie and Lakeview rooms at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, 450 W. Highway 22, Barrington, Illinois 60010. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Register for the Behavior Health Symposium today by calling 1.800.ADVOCATE (1.800.323.8622). You may also register online at advocatehealth.com, use seminar code: 3M04. 

About Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital

Advocate Good Shepherd in Barrington, Illinois is a 169-bed acute care hospital with more than 700 physicians representing 50 medical specialties. It is part of Advocate Health Care, named one of the Top Ten hospital systems in the U.S. by Thomson-Reuters. Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital is ranked highest in Illinois for quality and patient safety according to BlueCross BlueShield and exists to serve its communities.  For more about Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital: www.advocatehealth.com/gshp Shield’s 2011 Blue Star Report™.  Advocate is a faith-based organization

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