SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to remember that those who seek treatment also may face social stigmas.
Sue Abderholden with the National Alliance on Mental Illness says people may be afraid to tell their boss or employer that they're suffering with depression or other serious mental health conditions.
She believes that their fear is that they won't get a promotion, they won't get a raise, that they will be fired for this. She says the Americans with Disabilties Act actually does apply for someone with mental illness.
Abderholden says treating mental illness as early as possible can cut down on health-care costs in the long run.
She says some sufferers wait an average of ten years before seeking treatment. She says that's just way too long. In health care, the earlier you identify and treat the problem the better the outcomes, and she says that holds true for mental illnesses.
Abderholden also suggests that employers could train supervisors and managers to be as sensitive to mental health issues as other health issues.
(Thanks Minnesota News Connection)