Lawrenceburg, IN — In 2020, 52.9 million people aged 18 or older (21% of adults) had a mental illness during the year, according to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual survey released by the U. S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). For the same timeframe, 40.3 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder, and 17 million adults aged 18 or older had both a substance use disorder and a mental illness.
September is National Recovery Month, and Community Mental Health Center, Inc. joins mental health services providers in Indiana and nationwide in marking this important recognition of the accomplishments of people in recovery. The theme is “Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.” This was adapted from last year’s theme and will now be the permanent tagline for National Recovery Month—new themes will no longer be announced each year.
Recovery Month serves as a reminder that hope is real for individuals battling the disease of addiction. Lives are lost every day to substance use disorders and many more lives are impacted by the long-term effects on families and communities.
“Our organization works alongside patients in recovery every day. We will continue to work to break down the stigmas surrounding mental health issues and to bring awareness to substance
abuse and addiction in our communities,” said CMHC Executive Director and President Greg Duncan.
The nationwide observance of National Recovery Month is sponsored by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), within the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS). National Recovery Month serves the purpose of raising awareness of substance use and mental disorders, celebrates individuals in long-term recovery, and acknowledges the work of
treatment and recovery services providers.
In CMHC’s service area alone (Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties), the consequences of substance use disorders are evident, from deaths related to overdoses from
opioid substances to hospitalizations resulting from chronic alcohol abuse. The ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic may be a complicating factor for those in recovery from substance use disorders, as
isolation from peers and other supports can increase the potential for relapse. CMHC has mobilized to create opportunities for individuals to maintain treatment during the pandemic and has found that this has allowed for greater overall access to services.
It is essential to focus on the benefits of recovery, to every individual and every community involved. Often, mental illnesses co-occur with substance use disorders and one may cause or aggravate the other.
CMHC has been working to partner with other agencies and groups in its service area to meet the needs of individuals in the region and to help promote progress in the fight against substance use
disorders.
The good news is that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can recover. Every year, CMHC provides services to thousands of residents in Southeastern Indiana.
CMHC offers programs for individuals who want to begin the recovery process. Treatment is available for individuals of all ages. To inquire about services at Community Mental Health
Center, Inc., please contact CMHC’s South Region Outpatient Services Dearborn County office in Lawrenceburg at (812) 537-7375 or CMHC’s North Region Outpatient Services at the George
Street office in Batesville at (812) 934-4210.
(Community Mental Health Center, Inc. press release)
