Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. Every year, 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness; 1 in 4 children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness; 1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
Pamela Short, an assistant professor in the Auburn University College of Nursing, has made it her mission to bring awareness of mental health and well-being into the forefront of health care. Short, who graduated from Auburn with a bachelor's (1993) and a master’s (2018) degree in nursing, is a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor.
According to Short, who teaches mental health courses to nursing students, mental health is an incredibly important part of our overall health. “With a growing number of Americans experiencing mental health symptoms, we need to bring an awareness and advocate for improving our nation’s mental health care system.
“Mental Health Awareness is important to our students, faculty, and community because it affects our everyday lives in so many ways. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
“Our students interact with clients facing mental health challenges and crises in every area of nursing. It is important they are equipped with the skills needed to assist these clients as well as their family members who could be facing emotional and mental crises. The nurse-patient relationship serves to support clients facing crises. The nurse (nursing student) helps to steer patients and their families to resources available in the community thus overcoming barriers that may prevent access to care.”
Short is the founder and executive director of a nonprofit foundation Kenny’s Kouncil, which provides resources to individuals and families who are facing mental health challenges.
“KENNY’S KOUNCIL was established in the honor and memory of my brother Kenneth. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and depression. It was difficult to secure treatment for his condition due to barriers that still exist in healthcare and in communities that lack mental health education and information. It is our goal to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and overcome the barriers that hinder and sometimes prevent individuals from receiving adequate care.”
The nonprofit provides financial assistance and educates clients, families, and friends. “Education is key to increasing awareness and eradicating the stigma associated with mental illness. We want to educate our faculty, students, and the community to decrease the stigma surrounding Mental Health. Being able to identify behaviors, signs and symptoms when someone is in crisis can make a world of difference. Evidence shows that the sooner a person receives treatment the better their outcomes. People who are closest to the individual and who spend the most time with that individual can acquire the skills of observation. The help that can be obtained is paramount to helping their loved one successfully handle the situation,” Short added.
