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* Jud DeLoss, CEO of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, writing in the Sun-Times…

According to a 2019 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately one in five adults in the U.S., or around 47.6 million people, experienced a mental illness in 2018. The report also revealed that approximately 11.4 million adults had a serious mental illness that resulted in significant functional impairment. This prevalence underlines the immense need for mental health workers nationwide.

However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that by 2025, the country will have a shortage of about 250,000 mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and psychiatric nurses. This data shows that the current supply of mental health professionals is far from meeting the existing demand, leading to vast service gaps across the country.

The situation in Illinois is an example of this national crisis. The state serves as a microcosm of the broader U.S. and has been grappling with a shortage of mental health professionals for years. A recent report by the Illinois Psychiatric Society highlighted that out of the 102 counties in Illinois, 91 lack sufficient psychiatrists. This shortage means that individuals seeking help often have to travel long distances, face long wait times or go without necessary care — which in turn jeopardizes the well-being of millions of people who are unable to access timely and adequate care. […]

Rural areas, for instance, are particularly underserved, with 60% of rural Americans living in a mental health professional shortage area. Additionally, marginalized communities, such as those who are low-income, uninsured, and racial or ethnic minorities, are disproportionately affected by the shortage. […]

First, the aging mental health workforce is retiring at a faster pace than it is being replaced. The American Psychological Association reports that 40% of practicing psychologists are 60 years or older, and are hence nearing retirement. Second, compensation for mental health professionals, especially in public sectors, is not competitive with other medical fields, which disincentivizes professionals from joining the field. Lastly, the stigmatization of mental health issues could also be contributing to the lack of interest in pursuing a career in this field.

Illinois specifically is confronting a serious shortage of mental health professionals. In 2022, the Illinois General Assembly and Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved a new state budget that included a historic $140 million annual increase for Illinois’ long financially starved mental health care providers. It was a welcome and impressive first-step investment. Yet, it remains imperative for additional government investment in strategies that address this workforce shortage, such as incentivizing mental health professions and investing in telehealth solutions.

* Former US Rep. Glenn Poshard opens up about his own mental health troubles in his new book…

“At one point in my life, I went through a nervous breakdown and [co-author Carl Walworth] and I talked about whether we should include that,” said Poshard, who enlisted in the U.S. Army on his 17th birthday. “We talked honestly and openly about it and how I got through it.

“When I was 14, my sister and three of my best friends, who were all 17, were killed in an accident. My mom and dad’s marriage fell apart over that and then I lost my best friend in Vietnam, and he was the first kid from White County to die over there.

“I worked in a Korean orphanage when I was there in the Army, and I somehow blamed myself for not helping these kids enough to overcome their plight. It all fell in on me one day and poor farmer’s kids don’t go to psychologists.

“I had buried all those feelings and I had to get some help, so we talk about mental health issues in the book. There are a lot of folks today, especially young people, who are going through the same thing and hopefully my experiences can help them.”

* Gov. Pritzker was asked yesterday about whether he believed more people were talking about the mental health issue and whether society was meeting the need…

I feel, I don’t know if you do, that people are more willing to talk about mental health today than they were 10 years ago, or five years ago. That people are willing to share their own challenges, challenges within their families. And that’s part of getting rid of the stigma and recognizing that mental health and physical health are one in the same, or at least they belong treated as seriously as each other. And again, that’s why putting significant resources into bringing up mental health treatment across the state is so important.

* The Question: Can you talk about any mental health challenges your family has faced or is facing? No pressure, of course, but if you can, let us know.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 11:31 am

Comments

The past few years have been tough (not talking COVID). I’ve had some hard days and nights. I work on it myself. Mostly because it’s just my nature and nurture.

However I always want better for my kids than how I have it. My youngest (teen) has been seeing a counselor/therapist for about 2 years now. It’s been a great benefit for him, he’s better for it, we are better for it.

Getting help; helps.

If you need immediate help call 988.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 11:56 am
Suffer from depression and adult ADHD. Was nearly fired twice when suffering depression attacks due to family problems and work stress.

Doing better now.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 11:59 am
Have a family member with bi-polar and a history of self-harm who is estranged from the family due to unmanaged and unmedicated disease. Through pushing others away, and disordered behaviors, they have lost their professional career and nearly lost their house. Their mental health situation, and relationships with key support people, was made significantly worse by the era of Trumpism. Their BPD makes them highly vulnerable to the conspiratorial paranoid delusions peddled by political grifters. Every day I fear my phone will ring with devastating news.

Comment by Sad in IL Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:03 pm
A lot of nearly debilitating anxiety as a teen (those are NOT the best years of your life).
Parents fought like a cat and dog (thankfully no physical abuse but a lot of alcohol). They got help, which served as an example to me.
As an adult, a doctor gave me antidepressants for something unrelated to depression. They had no positive impact so she told me to stop taking them, without telling me to wean off. Those following weeks were the worst of my life - constant worry over death. Fortunately, I got help and eventually learned it was the result of stopping the meds cold turkey.

Comment by Proud Papa Bear Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:09 pm
I’ve dealt with mental illness for my entire adult life. I feel for those who have been triggered by the isolation of the pandemic and are experiencing symptoms for the first time. It can be terrifying. I have considered becoming an LCSW, but I’m hesitant to take on more student debt. I would if there were financial incentives to defray the cost of the schooling.

Comment by Now I'm down in it. Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:15 pm
Not challenges, as much as deliberately ignoring the stigma of mental health treatment.

Once a year I schedule an appointment with a mental health professional. I consider it preventative maintenance, because it is worth my time and health to get the perspective of a unbiased professional in case I’ve developed some bad habits, or ended up in a rut without noticing.

You can’t help yourself, if you don’t know something has gone wrong.

I think such an approach could be helpful for many people, but unfortunately there is still a stigma in place that prevents people from doing so.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:19 pm
I grew up with an alcoholic father and my parents fought non-stop. You learn to bury your feelings and keep your family’s secret. I’ve been to counseling twice during my life when I needed to talk things out and figure out how to keep going. It helped a lot. When I was 12 my 18 year old brother attempted suicide. My niece is bi-polar and my daughter has depression (treated successfully). Counseling helped me learn to cope better with life’s challenges.

Comment by Manchester Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:20 pm
I suffer from Depression/Anxiety. I take meds and see a therapist. It was particularly acute during the Rauner Budget IMPASSE. I watch videos of my floor speeches and can see how bad I was. I have a lot of support and I am very open about it to everyone. The good news, is it is manageable, if you attend to it. I like to think I am an example of what you can accomplish even while dealing mental health challenges.

Comment by Steve Andersson Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:23 pm
Mother has bipolar disorder which has required intermittent psychiatric hospitalizations throughout her life. We were fortunate in our rural area the county health department had services available. Rough stuff, especially for me as a kid.

Comment by Earnest Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:23 pm
Season Affective Disorder. December sunset @ 4:35 PM is difficult. Family in OKC, December sunrise @ 7:40 AM (streetlights on to 8 AM) is also difficult. Since I don’t do alligators & burmese pythons / gila monsters, Florida / Arizona are out.

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:41 pm
I don’t want to talk about specific diagnoses, but the second-order challenges are worth sharing.

Unlike many physical ailments, lots of mental illnesses come with symptoms that actively inhibit seeking treatment. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, and addiction all create barriers that make the work of acquiring treatment more difficult. Trouble accomplishing tasks, lack of motivation, and fear of interacting with strangers are all hallmarks of various mental illnesses. Alleviating stigma is helpful, but it doesn’t resolve the underlying illness.

Being a mental health patient also takes specific skills. Psychiatrists, especially under current conditions, don’t have the time to evaluate patients in depth. Most mental illnesses don’t have physical diagnostics available either. So getting properly diagnosed and treated requires patients to communicate their symptoms very accurately. I know lots of people who cycled through multiple misdiagnoses before finally saying the right combination of words that got them what they needed.

Difficulties with communication and task accomplishment also make organizing extremely difficult. There are plenty of mental health-related nonprofits and advocacy groups, but none with the influence of the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or the American Lung Association. It’s just really hard to build out an interest group whose shared characteristic is “struggles to get stuff done.” That’s exacerbated by the ways mental illness makes it more difficult to work consistently and earn money that can be donated.

An illness with no physical markers whose symptoms obstruct both treatment and self-advocacy is a very difficult puzzle to crack. It feels like an unconquerable closed loop. Though I’ll throw in the grain of salt that lots of problems look unsolvable to those of us with problem-solvitis.

Comment by vern Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:44 pm
I’m a thorough mess, and everybody knows it.

Comment by Dave Dahl Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:46 pm
Regular commenter using different name.

My mother had paranoid schizophrenia which caused the breakup in my parents marriage. Her family struggled believing my father about the problems. There were complaints about the trouble getting care, but in retrospect that may have been the stress of dealing with episodes. She was institutionalized twice. My son’s first visit with her was in the parking lot of Elgin. I had stress dealing with that and other things and have suffered depression my entire adult life.

My youngest had issues that we didn’t think required professional help. Love and discipline were our conservative responses. My reticence in thinking another member of my family was struggling with mental health issues. Once out on own, the problem manifested itself into suicidal thoughts. If it wasn’t for a well timed call from brother, suicide would have been the result. I later learned that she struggled with gender dysphoria throughout her childhood. She didn’t want to tell us because of our Republican traditional beliefs. Transitioning has helped but the lasting result is a continuing problem with depression. Access to care hasn’t been the problem as much as access to the appropriate care. Good counselors are often replaced starting a new exercise in finding a helpful replacement.

I worry about what this world has in store for my grandchildren and worry about whether family mental health problems visiting them. I thank god that their mother is an health professional.

Comment by I do have issues Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:47 pm
To the post/story: The situation of B/H care today is night and day compared to 10-15 years ago. back then, some would liken it to driving without A/C in middle of July (not preferable, but can be done), while others would say it was like driving without oil in the motor and rubber ripping off the wheels (just not getting far, if anywhere at all). I am eternally grateful our administration prioritizes healthcare as much as roads and capital improvements. Maybe not equal, but equitable.
Personally, I’ve seen all sides of the behavioral healthcare system, both for myself and family. It still has it’s wrinkles that are tough to iron out. But, it’s a much more empowered and efficient system than it used to be. It’s been said, anywhere money is involved, power will be the presiding factor. Someone always wants to clutch both. When we can rid ALL healthcare of the notion of money being a factor, we will be a better community/society/human race.

Comment by CentralILCentrist Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 12:53 pm
First, everyone sharing their stories and journeys, thank you, and I wish you good travels as there isn’t a final destination with mental health, it’s ongoing and continual. To - Steve Andersson -, not to purposely single you out for any specifics, but to thank you and one who looks up to you even now, I appreciate you and your sharing.

I have some real depression, I think me and family since Covid, as a family we have been facing real mental health challenges, some more challenging where they chose the important steps to seek professional ongoing help, including medications and therapy.

I now run not to merely clear my mind but as a real therapy for me to remove anxiety and depression that has and continues to manifest. If I did not have running I’d be deeper in those depressing thoughts. I know I saw the comic calming of Covid things like “baking” or “cocktails over zoom” or any way to connect, but it’s been running that has mentally helped, a physical activity if lost, I’d be quite lost after.

For me, I’ve learned that challenges in life, they do have significant impact on mental health, these past 100 or so days in particular have put my mental health in deeper thoughts.

My family now talks mental health quite a bit now, sharing what we feel, what therapy is releasing and what medications help in bringing peace with so many obstacles life brings. I’m glad we talk of it more, we ask more questions of each other, and let others know when our mental health needs support. I couldn’t say that five years ago, but glad for us all as a family we are now.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 1:00 pm
Good article published by Jud. There should be no question that we’ve moved the needle to make it easier for people to talk about their struggles and seek help (where they can get it).

Trauma comes in different forms and we should never compare our trauma because it affects us differently. Empathy goes a long way for friends family and strangers. I need to remind myself that more often.

I try and manage my own anxieties and depression with a caring family doctor that gets it and has prescribed me something for it for years.

We’re trying to do good things here in Illinois with the support of good policy and government funding and it needs to continue.

Comment by Josh Evans Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 1:09 pm
I have generalized anxiety and depression. I’ve also had a handful of panic attacks during my adult life. With the first couple I didn’t know what was happening to me. I thought I might be dying and it was scary. All of them manifested out of the blue; no precipitating event or anything like that. I take medication but am mildly to moderately anxious most of the time. The depression comes and goes. I remain mostly functional through meds and sporadic counseling but there are days when it’s really tough for me to simply put one foot in front of the other.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 1:17 pm
Ah, good discussion to be had. I live with bipolar disorder. I often say I hate calling it a disorder; rather, I prefer condition. It has really helped me, oddly enough. I have always been empathetic (thanks mom and dad!), but it has helped me be more understanding of those going through a crisis - temp or long-term. It has made me care about various policy issues, professionally and personally, that greatly impact mentally ill people, whether it is an obvious impact or not.

However, it has its downsides. Depression can hinder my ability to see the brighter side of life, make it difficult to do daily tasks (too tired, sad, hopeless), can’t see the bigger picture of why things matter. Mania can make me do things that are super intense - drinking heavily, spending way too much money, saying things without a filter (I am quite honest about many things, so I suppose even less of a filter), being emotionally irrational.

These “ups and downs” can be difficult to manage, on top of being a professional in the policy/politics world. I try to make sure people don’t notice my melancholy or my rapid speech, and I hope I do a good job at it. I am still young and have time to perfect how I manage it. But, I said I am young - I am starting my career. I want to be taken seriously. It is a hard balance to figure out my mental health, my youth, and my career all in one. Feels like a big, difficult venn diagram. I do know I have a good support system and that’s what’s most important. Oh, and access to mental health meds - I have that! In sum, it’s hard out here, but we make do. I can’t wait for mental health discussions to evolve in this state and nationally. Mental health ties into bigger policy discussions and issues beyond health care (transportation, education, ag, etc.) Intersectionality is real!

Also - Steve Andersson, you’re my hero. Kudos, pal.

Comment by Violette Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 1:20 pm
Had a parent murder the other parent when I was a young adult. Can’t imagine how I would have managed without therapy and a support system.

Comment by Anon E Moose Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 1:52 pm
My spouse has anxiety and depression. Every time I tell a someone I am married, they ask what he does for a living. I tell them he does all the household chores instead.

He doesn’t do either. Never has. Never will.

I love him anyway.

Comment by Too Much PI Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 1:52 pm
Well… yeah. I am still at the beginning of my mental health/anxiety/depression journey. I will start at the end: I was recently reading about depression and anxiety, and I realized that I had almost every symptom of depression. In fact, I have had these symptoms and they have been growing for years. I just never knew what it was. But I had been increasingly isolating myself emotionally. And I always thought I was smart enough, tough enough, man enough to deal with my own issues. Turns out, I was wrong. So at my last doctor’s visit, we did the depression assessment, and I was referred to a behavioral health clinic. And just think, in three months, I can have my first appointment. That’s kind of funny but it’s not a joke. I fortunately have the resources to afford Betterhelp. So I have started there. I have met with my therapist a couple of times. And I really am starting to feel better, starting to feel like me again, and able to honestly work through… well… everything. I just didn’t realize how disengaged I was from my own life, as far as activities I used to do and enjoy. I quit watching sports, gardening, cooking, fishing, reading for pleasure slowly over several years. So now I am slowly building those activities back into my life. And it is making a big difference in the way I feel. And it doesn’t hurt that I have a wonderful support network of family and friends who are understanding.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 1:53 pm
This isn’t my usual handle. My severely depressed sibling has been actively suicidal off and on for years and at one point horrifically maimed themselves. Their spouse and most of our friends and family cut them off. I became socially isolated as I took over managing their care.

That feeling of isolation persists. Over the years, I’ve only told a few people what happened. With one exception, it does not go well. I’ve lost friendships because people cannot bear hearing even a high-level sketch of a burden I live with everyday (and especially on Sundays, when the sound of a phone ringing still makes me freeze with dread.)

I thank everyone here who is brave enough to share and I hope that our society will on day muster more resources and compassion for conditions that so many of us contend with.

Comment by Grieving Sib Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 2:03 pm
My mother has major depressive disorder. Growing up, she had bouts with depression that were disabling. We knew she had a therapist and psychiatrist but did not learn the extent of her struggles until we were in college. The most important thing was the example my mom set. We could see the change in her over the decades. Medication was critical to stabilizing her. Years of extensive therapy slowly transformed her into a different person, and we witnessed the change in her for the better. As we got older, she encouraged us to seek treatment ourselves, which we did. I have depression and anxiety, take medication, and engage in therapy. It’s still hard to talk openly about most of the time, but my family is now able to discuss it openly and we are closer because of it. Her example is why I was able to ask for help and follow through. I’m now trying to follow her example of being open with others about her struggles and to encourage them, when appropriate, to ask for help.

Comment by Grateful Son Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 2:18 pm
We all walk our paths, hopefully not alone. I drank a s—load for 30 years to avoid and evade and deny pains from various sources. Now have been sober 25 plus. Two lives lived I guess.

Comment by Walker Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 2:21 pm
Undiagnosed manic depressive mother.
The highs were brief and the lows were frightening.
And sometimes people have trouble using the on/off switch when it comes to what to say and how to say it.
“Damn you” is nothing a parent should ever say to their kids. EVER.

And I have had confidence and depression and anxiety issues for years.
Still have them.
A few panic attacks which were truly awful.
Felt like I was being picked up and shaken in a cold shower.

Don’t ever be afraid of or feel like you’re weak by getting help.

Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 2:24 pm
I have bipolar disorder and panic disorder. I didn’t understand what was happening with me before my diagnosis and my diagnosis happened because I had a major break and was hospitalized for 2 weeks. Been on medication for 15 years now and see a counselor frequently and a psychiatrist for med management. I have the luxury of having access to all of those resources. I cannot imagine having to live with my diagnoses without medication management and access to care.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 3:26 pm
I’m very proud of the work I’ve done through therapy. It’s helped me gain a better perspective on how to be a better person and most importantly a better father.

Comment by Jonathan Carroll Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 3:40 pm
I wanted to add two things:

“Trauma comes in different forms and we should never compare our trauma because it affects us differently.”

This is so true. Everyone’s struggles are real and comparison can discourage people (myself included many years ago) from seeking help because “others have it so much worse, so this must be something I can fix myself.” Regardless of how mental health affects someone-severely or mildly-when people offer empathy and compassion, it makes a world of difference and encourages further conversations.

“Don’t ever be afraid of or feel like you’re weak by getting help”

As explained by Vern, the symptoms of mental illness frequently make it harder to ask for help. Asking for help can be scary. I was terrified to seek help for alcoholism such that it took me almost two years to finally reach out. Asking for help takes courage. Even if asking for help makes one feel weak, it actually shows tremendous strength, as does sharing one’s story.

Thanks to everyone for their posts. The comments here are a great example of conversations that help decrease the stigma around mental health. And it’s inspiring to see.

Comment by Grateful Son Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 3:54 pm
Earlier this Spring, one of my troop’s Boy Scouts returned after being gone for a few weeks. Other boys asked why he’d been absent. “I was hospitalized for mental illness,” he replied openly. I was absolutely gobsmacked by his candor. It gives me hope for the next generation.

Comment by Ben Tre Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 4:09 pm
I’ve had multiple diagnoses; the ones I’m willing to share are severe depression and generalized anxiety. I appreciate this thread for its vulnerability and the willingness of commentators to share their experiences. In my own life, if I tell people I have these struggles, it seems to usually be brushed off or downplayed, because *everyone* has these diagnoses these days, or “you seem fine!” or any number of things. Well, I’m glad I “seem fine.” It is actually very difficult, with varying levels of difficulty depending on when you ask, and there are times where I wonder if I will be OK, like some people appear to assume. But this thread gives me hope that the stigma around this is decreasing. Thanks to everyone for sharing.

Comment by LincolnCoNative Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 4:11 pm
I love this blog’s commenters. Today really stands out, however.

Thank you to all. Be well and big hugs.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 4:23 pm
I was raised by an alcoholic who sadly died while still drinking, then I married an alcoholic who got sober early, then we raised an addict who is thankfully sober now and another child with such serious mental health issues that as an adult and a parent can’t work. Hopefully you’ve never had to look into the eyes of your adult child right after narcan saved their life or testified in court to take an adult child’s civil rights away to mandate medicine. I’ve done both of those. They suck beyond belief. I don’t talk about this much despite the fact that I know many of your readers and some I know well. Why? It’s complicated but I think mainly because these stories are not mine to tell but rather my loved ones. Our sober child is telling their story which is good. I unfortunately feel the pain expressed under this post. It’s paralyzing sometimes. And most of the people I know have no idea about our family pain which reminds me that we know so little of others pain. When it’s not my story to tell, how do we tell it?

Comment by Hello Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 8:27 pm
We are all in this together…as this blog post shows.

My Mom suffered with bipolar disorder and was hospitalized periodically throughout my youth.

Anxiety and depression are facts of life for me, personally speaking…The medicine plants (Cannabis/Psilocybin mushroom) save me from both.

Life is hard for everyone…sometimes…and it’s therapeutic to know others continue to overcome mental health challenges…I’m giving mental hugs to everyone…too.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Thursday, Aug 10, 23 @ 9:04 pm