Throughout our country untreated mental and emotional illness has come close to reaching a crisis level, bringing about homelessness, assaults, domestic violence, suicide, and homicide. When left untreated, emotional illness can escalate into tragic acts of desperation and despair.

Part of the problem has been reduction in reimbursement, part is the continuing stigma placed on these illnesses by society, part is a person’s lack of realization that their struggles are actually a treatable illness, and part is the hesitancy to seek help because of a lack of parity in health insurance.

Combine all of these together and many who are in need of mental health treatment slip through the cracks of the care system, only to emerge mainly as a threat to themselves and sometimes to the community.

It is important to know that a mental illness has psychosocial and biological origins. The earlier it is detected, the better a person’s chance for recovery.

Emotional problems resemble physical ailments in many ways. No one – not the young, old or any age in between – is immune to the life problems mental illness can cause if ignored and left untreated.

We see struggling youth with school adjustment problems, fighting addictions, walking the path of suicide, and presenting a number of psychological issues.

Chemical dependence can also interfere with a person’s perception of reality and ability to make safe, healthy decisions. This is harmful for adults but can be especially problematic for adolescents since they have limited problem-solving and decision-making experience. The most visible example is motor vehicle accidents. Also, underage drinking is associated with violence, suicide, academic failure and other harmful behaviors.

Especially disturbing is that young people tend to drink more heavily than adults, worsening the dangers to themselves and others. In addition, when drinking starts in childhood or adolescence, people increase their risk of developing alcohol-related problems as adults.

We see some of our elderly trying to cope with loss, depression, addiction, and becoming more isolated. They and their families don’t realize these coping problems are not normal signs of aging; so it goes misdiagnosed or mistreated, chalked up as an “ailment of age.”

Domestic violence can be traced to problems of anger, rage, and prior victimization. Such violence often leads to further crime, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, chronic dependency, and children with severe behavior problems.

In Ohio alone approximately 2.5 million people suffer from potentially disabling mental and emotional struggles each year. Yet only one-third of those in need of treatment will ever seek or find help.

We estimate that untreated mental illness costs Ohio taxpayers more than $6.5 billion annually. This high price tag is due in part to the strain placed on hospital emergency rooms, social service agencies, courts, juvenile justice system, jails and prisons.

Reality is that mental illness can be diagnosed and treated just as physical illness can. The truth is that treatment can be far less expensive than emergency rooms, courtrooms and incarceration. The sad fact is that vulnerable, struggling people do not have to live without adequate care, treatment, and rehabilitation.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally, do not delay in seeking help. Turn to experienced professionals who are dedicated to helping heal inner struggles and stopping turmoil before it takes a bigger toll on life.