Adventist Behavioral Health Foundation

Mental illnesses are shockingly common! You may not realize that one in four of us will suffer from depression, anxiety, or have thoughts of suicide. The rest of us will be affected in some indirect way.

Startling, isn't it. Were you also aware that half of all lifetime cases begin by the age of 14! Odds are, you didn't know this either, which is okay. Most people do not. What other illness can we say, "half of all lifetime cases begin by age 14"?

Mental illness can happen to a child, a brother, a grandparent, or a co-worker. It can happen to someone from any background. It can occur at any stage of life, from childhood to old age. No community is unaffected by mental illnesses; no school or workplace is untouched.

And, when it happens to a child, it is just as heart wrenching as the child who is diagnosed with cancer. Both diseases are causes that need "champions", to give these children a sense of hope about their future.

Childhood mental disorders impose enormous burdens and can have intergenerational consequences. They reduce the quality of children's lives and diminish their productivity later in life. No other illnesses damage so many children so seriously.

These are sobering facts. Yet, most people are not aware that the incidence of mental illness is more common than heart disease and cancer, combined. There is something else that most people do not realize - mental illness is a treatable disease.

Recent advances in research on brain and behavior, the development of new medications, and psychotherapies for mental disorders afford new treatment opportunities. We are incorporating these "best practices" into our programs and services.

However, the most formidable obstacle to future progress is stigma. Stigma is the most significant among the many barriers that discourage people from seeking treatment. In fact, new research tells us that the delay, on average, between diagnosis and treatment is now seven years. This is unacceptable. Stigma must be overcome.

To do this takes people willing to "raise their hands" and become a champion for mental illness. We are committed to this. But, we need you to commit with us. In doing so, you will be making an investment in the HOPE and FUTURE of our next generation. In fact, it just may help transform a generation of children.

Robert Kennedy challenged us when he said, "Every generation inherits a world it never made, and as it does so, it automatically becomes the trustee for those who follow."

We all did not inherit this "world" of mental illness, but, let us all vow to become its "trustee", and bring to it our collective resolve, determination, and resources to take giant steps in advancing the best-practice treatment and research options available. This is our journey. We invite you to join us. Together, we CAN erase the stigma.

Thank you for visiting the Foundation website. We welcome your friendship.