Episode Fourteen - Shut Up Brain! I’m Fine.

Really? Who’s got all their shit together all the time? Simple. Nobody does.<br /><br />NOTE: Mental health is a topic that hits home with all three of us on the Shit Show, so this is gonna get personal.<br /><br />Let’s get real. Mental health is a real and significant issue. We convince ourselves of the lie, nobody cares and you’re alone. This is bullshit. People do care and you are NOT alone! Some facts:<br />• 19.1% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2018 (47.6 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults.<br />• 4.6% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2018 (11.4 million people). This represents 1 in 25 adults.<br />• 16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people)<br />• 3.7% of U.S. adults experienced a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness in 2018 (9.2 million people)<br /><br />It’s not a race or sexual-preference thing. The annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by demographic group:<br />• Non-Hispanic Asian: 14.7%<br />• Non-Hispanic white: 20.4%<br />• Non-Hispanic black or African-American: 16.2%<br />• Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native: 22.1%<br />• Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 26.8%<br />• Hispanic or Latino: 16.9%<br />• Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 37.4%:<br /><br />It’s a fucking human thing! Sadly, too many of us believe the lie and don’t get help. We must fight the stigma and make help more accessible to those who need it.<br />• 11.3% of U.S. adults with mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2018<br />• 13.4% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2018<br />• 60% of U.S. counties do not have a single practicing psychiatrist<br /><br />It’s OK to talk about mental health issues openly and it’s OK to face our mental challenges head on. It’s NOT OK to keep this shit under wraps and it’s NOT OK to face your mental challenges alone. The ultimate end for some who are suffering is suicide.<br />• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death am