"Join The Voices For Recovery" Is Theme Of National Recovery Month In Sept.

Community Mental Health Center, Inc. in Lawrenceburg will recognize the accomplishments of people in recovery.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - In 2016, 44.7 million people aged 18 or older (18.3% of adults) had a mental illness in the past year, according to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual survey released by the U. S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). For the same time frame, 20.1 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year, and 8.2 million adults, aged 18 or older, had both a substance use disorder and a mental illness.

September is National Recovery Month, and Community Mental Health Center, Inc., Lawrenceburg, joins mental health services providers in Indiana and nationwide in marking this important recognition of the accomplishments of people in recovery.

“It is critical that people experiencing mental illnesses and substance use disorders receive the support and treatment they need,” said Tom Talbot, Executive Director of Community Mental Health Center, Inc. “The reality is that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can recover.”

Recovery Month serves as an urgent reminder of the ongoing consequences of the nationwide opioid abuse epidemic, which has had tremendous impact on the Tri-State Region of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio in recent years. Many lives have been lost to opioid overdoses and many more lives have been impacted by the long-term effects of the increase in opioid abuse. Local, regional and state level groups are continuing to work to meet the challenges with the resources available at the same time as these groups are continuing to advocate for increased funding from local, state and federal government authorities to advance the fight against opioid abuse.

The nationwide observance of National Recovery Month is sponsored by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), within the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). National Recovery Month raises awareness of substance use and mental disorders, celebrates individuals in long-term recovery, and acknowledges the work of treatment and recovery services providers.

Observance of Recovery Month raises awareness of mental health and substance use disorders, celebrates individuals in long-term recovery, and acknowledged the work of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services, not only in September, but throughout the year.

In CMHC’s service area alone (Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties), we continue regularly to see deaths related to overdoses from heroin and other narcotics, as well as numerous arrests of individuals who have committed crimes linked to heroin use or dealing in heroin. Our region also continues to have its share of arrests and health issues related to the use and abuse of other substances, including alcohol.

It is essential to focus on the benefits of recovery, to every individual and every community involved. Often, mental illnesses co-occur with substance use disorders and one may cause or aggravate the other. Data from SAMHSA confirms that millions of adults report having these co-occurring disorders.

Mr. Talbot said CMHC has been working to partner with other agencies and groups in its service area to meet the needs of individuals in the region and to help promote progress in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

“The needs of our communities are great. We are working to develop partnerships that can facilitate and promote recovery and alleviate the problems and consequences we all suffer from rampant substance abuse,” said Mr. Talbot.

“We want to achieve collaboration with primary health care and other providers to develop better integrated care in our community. Overall wellness is a key element in this effort, and it plays an essential part in the recovery process.”

The good news is that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can recover. According to SAMHSA, two-thirds of Americans believe that treatment for mental health and substance use disorders can help people lead normal lives. Every year, CMHC provides services to thousands of residents in Southeastern Indiana.

“We see successes every day, and we want to be able to continue to be a partner in creating these, in helping our patients to begin and continue their journeys,” said Talbot.

CMHC offers programs for individuals who want to begin the recovery process. Treatment is available for individuals of all ages. To inquire about services at Community Mental Health Center, Inc., please contact CMHC’s South Region Outpatient Services Dearborn County office in Lawrenceburg at (812) 537-7375, or CMHC’s North Region Outpatient Services George Street office in Batesville at (812) 934-4210.

All CMHC services are provided without regard to race, religion, disability, gender, color, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political belief, status as a veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.