Mental illnesses are disorders, ranging from mild to severe, that affect a person’s thinking, mood, and/or behavior. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one-in-five adults live with a mental illness.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Throughout your life, if you experience mental health problems, you’re thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected.
Although alcohol is the most commonly used substance by teens, most teens don’t drink. Teens’ alcohol use continues to drop. From 2001 to 2022, past year alcohol use by 12th graders decreased from 73 percent to 52 percent.
Underage drinking contributes to more than 3,900 deaths among people below the age of 21 in the U.S. each year.9 Drinking under age 21 is also strongly linked with death from alcohol poisoning.
The minimum drinking age in the United States is 21. Having a national minimum drinking age saves lives and improves health. There is even evidence that the law protects people from drug dependence and suicide
Alcohol addiction and abuse is not only a considerable burden on government spending, it also claims thousands of lives across the country each year. Some notable statistics on alcohol addiction include:
Alcohol Awareness Month is a health awareness campaign that was formerly sponsored by the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). It took place every April and was established in 1987 to raise awareness for communities and to help understand the causes and treatment available for one of the nation’s biggest health issues. The campaign also aimed to reduce the social stigma associated with alcoholism and to educate people on how the disease can be addressed; offering help and advice for families as well as direct engagement with those afflicted with alcohol addiction.
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.
Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.
Mental illnesses are disorders, ranging from mild to severe, that affect a person’s thinking, mood, and/or behavior. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one-in-five adults live with a mental illness.
SIAD is a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about self-harm and self-injury. It’s a day where communities come together to break the silence, dispel myths, and offer support to those who experience self-harm. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding and compassion in approaching this sensitive topic, fostering environments where affected individuals can seek help without judgment.
