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Mental Health

Taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health.

Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of their cultural background, level of education, age, or income. It affects 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children in the United States each year. Mental health problems includes depression, anxiety, and other serious mental disorders.

Having a mental illness is not a matter of personal choice or weakness, but usually caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. It can be inherited, caused by emotional or physical stress, or a combination. Mental health problems are diagnosable, treatable conditions.

Do you know the symptoms of mental illness?

We know that a high fever is a sign of physical illness. What are signs of mental illness? In general, the warning signs are major changes in a person’s feelings, thoughts, behavior, and how they interact with the world around them. One common sign is problems handling the tasks and challenges of everyday life. When daily life seems overwhelming and you can't handle everyday activities, it's best to seek help as soon as possible.

Seeking professional help

A lot of times, people don't get help for mental illness, often because they're embarassed about it or not sure what to do. See Not Sure About Getting Help? When a person needs help with their mental health, they should get help as soon as possible, just like they would seek help immediately for any other health issue. When mental health issues are ignored, they can get worse and affect your thinking, communication, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem.

There is a wide range of professional and community resources to choose from for mental health problems. In general, it is a good idea to seek professional help for a mental health problem when:

  • A symptom does not get better on its own
  • A symptom becomes severe
  • A symptom does not respond to self-care or help from family or friends
  • Symptoms become numerous and affect all areas of your life

If you are thinking about hurting yourself or someone else, get help immediately.

TIPS

Finding a Counselor or Therapist

The terms counselor and therapist cover a variety of trained professionals. The differences between therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors may not be as important to you as finding someone with whom you are comfortable.

When calling to make an appointment:

  • If you have questions, and if possible, ask to speak with the therapist or counselor directly, not with a receptionist or assistant.
  • Be clear about the problem for which you want help.
  • Ask the therapist or counselor about his or her background with your problem (how many people he or she has worked with on this type of problem). Ask the therapist to explain his or her views about the problem.
  • Ask how long the counseling might take, so that you can picture how it will fit into your life.
  • Ask any other questions that would make you more comfortable with the idea of attending a session.

If you go to a therapist and don't like what happens, don't give up on the idea of counseling. Sometimes a different counselor will fit your personality better. Try again with someone new.

Local Resources

SLIDING SCALE COUNSELING SERVICES

  • Interface Children & Family Services: Call (805) 485-6114 or click here
     
  • City Impact: Call (805) 983-3636 or or click here
     
  • Jewish Family Services: Call (805) 641-6565 or click here
     
  • California Lutheran University Community Counseling Centers: Oxnard - (805) 493-3059  •  Thousand Oaks (805) 493-3390  •  click here
     
  • Clinicas del Camino Real: Oxnard, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura - Call (805) 647-6353 or click here
     
  • For assessment and referral: Call the VCBH STAR Team at (866) 998-2243.

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In Your Words

"When your body is sick, you treat it with care. Treat your mental health with the same care."
- Tri-County GLAD