FIND A HEALTHY STATE OF MIND

Where can you get help?

If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental illness, help is nearby. You can talk to a licensed psychologist or therapist through video using LiveHealth Online Psychology.

It’s easy to use, private and, in most cases, you can see a therapist within four days or less.⁷ All you have to do is sign up at livehealthonline.com or download the app to get started.

Here’s how to make your first appointment:

• Use the app or go to livehealthonline.com and log in.
• Select LiveHealth Online Psychology and choose the therapist you’d like to see.
• Or, call LiveHealth Online at 1-844-784-8409 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• You’ll get an email confirming your appointment.

Contact your Employee Assistance Program for resources available to help you and your family to build resilience and get answers to some of life’s toughest questions. Visit http://www.usg.edu/hr/benefits/employee_assistance_program and sign in using password USGCares or call 1-888-960-3305.

Taking steps toward good mental health

If you suffer from a mental illness, it can affect your whole life. Your feelings, moods and ability to think – they all suffer. How you relate to others may also suffer. It may even make it hard to function on a daily basis.¹

But you are not alone. More than one in four Americans deal with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mental issues.² A mental illness is a real medical condition – it’s
not just “in your head.” The good news is that most mental illness can be treated with the help of your doctors.¹

Are you at risk?³

The exact cause of most mental illness is hard to pin down. If people in your family have struggled with mental disorders, you may have a higher chance of doing the same. But DNA isn’t the whole story. Things that happen to you – today or in the past – can play a part too. Even your lifestyle matters. Your risk of mental illness is a combination of many of the factors below. Talk about them with your doctor.

• Brain injuries
  
• Drug or alcohol abuse
  
• Not eating right
  
• Abuse or neglect
  
• Death of a family member or close friend
  
• Divorce
  
• Living in poverty
  
• Changing jobs or schools
  

What can you do?

A healthy mind often goes hand in hand with a healthy body. Only a mental health professional can help you deal with the serious symptoms and causes of mental illness. But you can take steps to good mental health every day. Try these tips from Mental Health America:⁴

• See your doctor when you’re not feeling well. Don’t settle for feeling crummy. Your doctor can help you decide if your symptoms are due to a health problem or a medication you’re taking.
  
• Get enough sleep. Your body needs to be at its best to help your mind recover. Ask your doctor how much sleep is enough for you.
  
• Watch what you eat. A healthy, balanced diet fuels your body and keeps your blood sugar steady. This prevents mental highs and lows that can make depression and anxiety seem worse.⁵
  
• Get moving. Regular exercise can help you feel less stressed, depressed and anxious. It can even help you sleep better. Again, check with your doctor first.
  
• Value yourself. Make time each week to do something you enjoy. Connect with others. Surround yourself with positive, caring people, and spend a lot of time with them. If you don’t have supportive people in your life, seek them out by joining a support group.
  
• Manage your stress. Pay attention to how you’re feeling, and don’t take on too much. It’s OK to say no to people or projects that place too many demands on you. Know your limits, and only take on what you can handle.
  

These web sites are also good sources of support:

• MentalHelp.net (active support forums and articles on dealing with mental health issues in all parts of life)
  
• mentalhealth.samhsa.gov (information from the National Mental Health Information Center)
  
• nmha.org (depression screenings, newsletters, and links to local resources from Mental Health America)
  

1 National Alliance on Mental Illness, What is Mental Illness: Mental Illness Facts (accessed September 2010): nami.org

2 National Business Group on Health, Mental and Behavioral Health (accessed September 2010):businessgrouphealth.org

3 WebMD, Causes of Mental Illness (February 9, 2009): webmd.com

4 Mental Health America, Staying Well When You Have a Mental Illness (accessed September 2010):nmha.org

5 The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning International, Mood Swings And Depression: Let’s Get To The Bottom Of It (accessed October 8, 2010): orthomolecular.org

6 HRHero.com, Mental Health Parity in Employer-Sponsored Health Plans (accessed September 2010): hrhero.com

7 Appointments subject to availability of a therapist.