Next week is Mental Illness Awareness Week.  Mental illness is very prevalent in society today; numbers show that approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness in a year, and 1 in 25 of adults have a serious mental illness that greatly interferes with one or more major life activities.  Millions of Americans are facing mental illnesses, but there is still misunderstandings surrounding these illnesses and exactly how much they are affecting lives.  If you have any questions surrounding Mental Health Awareness Week or the stigmas surrounding it, take a look at the National Association on Mental Illness’ website.

If you’re looking to learn even more information on mental health, the library has you covered.  Here are a couple books to start with:

Cover Art The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell; Sally M. Winston (Foreword by)
Call Number: 152.46 C17 | First Floor Stacks
Publication Date: 2016-02-02
Are you truly in danger or has your brain simply tricked you into thinking you are? In The Worry Trick, psychologist and anxiety expert David Carbonell shows how anxiety hijacks the brain and offers effective techniques to help you break the cycle of worry, once and for all. If you're ready to start observing your anxious feelings with distance and clarity--rather than getting tricked once again--this book will show you how.
 
Cover Art 8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise by Christina Hibbert; Babette Rothschild; Allison Hibbert
Call Number: 616.891 H52 | 3rd Floor Stacks
Publication Date: 2016-04-25
We all know that exercise is good for physical health, but recently, a wealth of data has proven that exercise also contributes to overall mental well-being. In this inspiring book, Christina Hibbert, a psychologist and expert on women's mental health, grief, and self-esteem, explains the connections between exercise and mental well-being and offers readers strategies for sticking to fitness goals, overcoming motivation challenges and roadblocks to working out, and maintaining a physically and emotionally healthy exercise regimen.
 
Cover Art Mental Health in America by Donna R. Kemp; Mildred Vasan (Editor)
Call Number: 362.2 K32 | 2nd Floor Stacks
Publication Date: 2007-03-01
This extensive overview charts the fluctuating course of mental health policy in the United States from colonial times to today. * A summary of court cases demonstrates the impact of legislation on mental health policy in the United States * A detailed chronology of key events, reform movements, legislation, such as the National Mental Health Act of 1946, and landmark research findings
 
Cover Art Mental Disorders of the New Millennium by Thomas G. Plante
Call Number: 616.89 M52 | 3rd Floor Stacks
Publication Date: 2006-07-01
 
 
 
 
 

The goal of Mental Illness Awareness Week is to educate the public, fight against the stigmas surrounding the issue, and to provide support to those affected.  Loras is hosting an event every day next week to raise awareness, and you can find the events on the event calendar.  And if you are in need of a safe place to work through any emotional and mental issues you are going through, be sure to take advantage of Loras College’s Counseling Center.