Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to Student Name, With technological advances of the twenty-first century, many people have looked to online websites and electronic resources as a form of health care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has met this need, and is known as a staple in the medical and healthcare communities. The CDC maintains a website that provides lots of data and statistics on many different health conditions and also provides preventative care. The website can be beneficial in assisting individuals with their own mental health issues and/or assisting their loved ones. Two examples of how this website could help improve my mental health is by me learning what mental health is, and also by me knowing what services are available in my area.
The general resources tab on the CDC website is a great example of how being informed can be beneficial. Under the general resources link there is a list of conditions provided by CDC’s sister site Medline Plus. These conditions range from alcohol, anxiety, bipolar to stress. There are general overviews, diagnosis, symptoms etc. It gives more information on the mental health issue and allows the individual to get a deeper insight on the condition. Under this same tab is a link for the Mental Health Services Locator. This link opens a new tab where the individual can locate services by entering their zip code, or city or state. This is essential, because there are many people who are in need of services, and they do not know where to start. This information would be helpful also when referring a family member to a Mental Health provider. If a loved one is exhibiting symptoms of mental illness, I would go to the CDC website and locate services in their area. Sometimes illnesses go untreated and people go undiagnosed from inadequate access to mental health services. There are many options for mental health treatment, from public hospitals to private practice clinicians.
If someone is looking to improve their mental health status, or just to find out about mental illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a good place to start. The website is well labeled and contains a search function where the person can directly look up a mental health condition. It is important for individuals to take care of their mental health just like they take care of their physical health. By knowing what mental health is, and knowing the conditions that are considered mental illness, individuals will have an awareness of their mental wellness. It is also essential to know how to obtain services and what type of treatment is available. All of this information is available on the CDC website.
References
Mental Health Basics. (2013, October 4). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/basics.htm
