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During Mental Health Awareness Month, INTEGRIS Health encourages Oklahomans to recognize the strong connection between mental health conditions and substance use disorders, while emphasizing that recovery is possible with compassionate, integrated care.

Mental health and substance use disorder frequently occur together, often referred to as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis.

• Nationally, approximately 8% of U.S. adults experience both a mental illness and substance use disorder, according to the latest data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
• Mental health challenges continue to rise across the country. SAMHSA reports that more than 61 million adults in the United States experienced a mental illness in the past year, while nearly 28 million people experienced an alcohol use disorder.
• State and national data show Oklahoma continues to rank among the states with the highest rates of mental illness, substance use and suicide risk.

Experts say untreated mental health conditions can increase the risk of substance misuse as individuals attempt to self-medicate symptoms. Likewise, substance use can worsen existing mental health conditions and create barriers to treatment and recovery.

“For many, untreated mental health conditions can lead to substance use as a coping mechanism, while substance use can worsen anxiety, depression, trauma and other mental health challenges,” says Courtney Hays, operations supervisor at INTEGRIS Health Arcadia Trails Center for Addiction Recovery. “Each condition fuels the other, creating a cycle that can feel impossible to break. True healing happens when we treat mental health and substance use components together.”

INTEGRIS Health encourages individuals and families to seek help early and to understand that mental illness and substance use disorder are medical conditions, not personal failures.

Warning signs that someone may need support can include:

• Persistent sadness, anxiety or hopelessness
• Withdrawal from family, friends or daily activities
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• Significant mood or behavior changes
• Difficulty functioning at work, school or home
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

INTEGRIS Health offers a variety of mental health and psychiatry services for Oklahomans of all ages. Early diagnosis and appropriate services for children and families can make a big difference, as can improved access to providers and programs.

INTEGRIS Health Arcadia Trails Center for Addiction Recovery provides a full continuum of care, from withdrawal management to outpatient support, plus family programming through its partnership with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. To get help, call 405-216-2500 for a free assessment or visit arcadiatrails.org to access resources.

Anyone contemplating suicide or experiencing a mental health emergency can call 988, the state’s mental health hotline number. The helpline is the first step to a multi-level crisis response.