Mental Health Awareness and Education Website Offers Free Information for Veterans and Their Families Dealing With Suicide and Depression
With Congress wrestling with mental health funding issues and increasing public awareness of soldiers' suicide rates and depression, MentalHelp. net offers free online information from mental health experts.
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) May 19, 2008
MentalHelp. net, a site dedicated to educating and informing the public, has announced that additional resources are available on the site for soldiers, their families and anyone with questions about how the Iraq war is impacting suicide rates and depression among military personnel.
"The soldiers, their families and the public are increasingly concerned about suicide (http://www. mentalhelp. net/poc/center_index. php? id=9&cn=9), depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health issues related to the Iraq war," Mark Dombeck, Ph. D., founder of MentalHelp. net said. "The number of Iraq war veterans needing mental health (http://www. mentalhelp. net) care continues to rise sharply."
"MentalHelp. net is an excellent resource for finding information on certain mental illnesses and disorders. MentalHelp. net's mission is to help educate the public about mental illness and the importance of treatment," he added. "Mental health is an integral part of health care, but is often overlooked because of inaccessibility. Many people are not sure if they need help, and that is where the material at MentalHelp. net comes in. From symptoms of certain mental illnesses and disorders, to living with someone who has a mental illness, MentalHelp. net is an excellent free resource for anything regarding mental illnesses."
Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph. D and an editor at the site added, "Many soldiers coming home from war are in desperate need of help from a therapist, but many think they do not need the help. MentalHelp. Net has a plethora of articles about disorders and mental illnesses that may be affecting veterans. Two common ones are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression (http://www. mentalhelp. net/poc/center_index. php? id=5&cn=5)."
"There are a variety of other issues that can arise when a soldier returns from war, and MentalHelp. net has information on these as well. These articles can help not only the veterans themselves, but the families of these veterans. Family members can access hundred of articles explaining a mental illness or disorder and learn the symptoms so they can help their loved one" Riess explained.
"PTSD is very common among veterans and can be treated in a variety of ways. Some can be helped by therapy visits, and others can be helped by medication. Recent statistics show that one in five soldiers returning from war suffer from PTSD. Left untreated, serious consequences can occur," added Dombeck. "MentalHelp. net strives to get the word out to the public about the importance of treatment for these issues and get our veterans the help that they need."
MentalHelp. net has a therapist finder feature on their website that allows anyone to search for a therapist in their area based on the issue for which they would be seen. Veterans and family members alike can use this feature to locate a mental health professional who will be able to provide the services needed. Other features on the MentalHelp. net website are question and answer sections, an online mental help support community (http://community. mentalhelp. net/) where people can give and receive advice on certain mental illnesses, and blogs written by mental health professionals.
"With all of the information that MentalHelp. net has to offer, help for veterans is just a click away. By spending a little time on the website, you can read about a mental illness, read about the symptoms, and find a mental health professional in your area," Dombeck said. "This free resource is extremely valuable and easy to use in order to get our veterans the help they need--and deserve."
About MentalHelp. net
The MentalHelp. net (http://mentalhelp. net/) website exists to promote mental health and wellness education and advocacy.
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