Financial Education Benefits Center Stresses Importance of Mental Health During Mental Health Awareness Month

SAN RAMON, Calif., May 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and coupled with the recent American Healthcare Act passing in the House of Representatives, many stories have surfaced warning of the consequences of removing mental health from essential healthcare coverage. Financial Education Benefits Center cares about their members who struggle with mental health and want to reassure them that they have access to services that can help them, such as those that focus on mindfulness, meditation and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Mental Health Month was started in 1949 by Mental Health America with the goal of spreading the word about mental health as something everyone should care about. Since then they have been dedicated to raising awareness and erasing the stigmas that mental illness is a personal problem cured by simply pulling oneself out of it or that it is a religious affliction caused by sin.

Today, mental health is much more publicly recognized as just as important as physical health. In fact, addiction was recently classified as a brain disorder — a huge step toward the perspective that mental illness should be treated like physical ailments: early and proactively instead of reactionary or not at all. Some proponents argue that you wouldn't wait to treat cancer until late stages, so you shouldn't wait to get help with a mental illness.

"Mental health is just as important as physical health; they even go hand-in-hand in terms of treatments," says Jennifer Martinez, Manager at Financial Education Benefits Center. "We're seeing moves toward supplementing treatments for physical ailments with mindfulness and mental ailments with exercise. It's important to have a comprehensive approach."

Studies are showing that improved mental health reduces other medical costs by reducing how often people visit their doctor. Mental health includes stress levels and anxiety, which are factors in many physical ailments that get people to go see their doctor. According to WebMD, 75 to 90 percent of all visits to the doctor are for stress-related ailments; stress can contribute to headaches, high blood pressure, skin conditions and more.

The Affordable Care Act put in place requirements for mental healthcare to be provided, but the American Healthcare Act removes them. Moreover, the AHCA includes mental illnesses in the long list of pre-existing conditions that would qualify someone for much higher premiums.

"It's so important to pay attention to mental health, and the fact that it might not be covered by insurance soon means that people may have to address it on their own," says Martinez. "Though we encourage people to seek professional help for serious mental illness, at FEBC we offer services that use mindfulness, meditation and cognitive behavior therapy to help improve general mental health."

Whereas it's important to talk to a professional about serious mental concerns, there are some things that can be done on one's own. Meditation, mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy are all effective as supplemental treatment for anxiety; depression; sleep, bipolar, eating and psychiatric disorders; ADHD; and psychosis.

"There is a lot of information out there about mental health, so if you have any concerns, do some research," Martinez encourages. "Some apps are very effective when it comes to reducing stress, anxiety and depression symptoms. They may be good options when formal therapy sessions aren't easily accessible because of changing insurance policies. FEBC provides several resources for new and existing members who need that extra bit of help."

About The Financial Education Benefits Center

The Financial Education Benefits Center is located in San Ramon, California. The Company has already helped thousands of people save money and obtain the necessary education required to live a financially free life.

The Financial Education Benefits Center has partnered with several name brand third-party companies to expand the financial and educational products and services available to its members and to provide a variety of wellness services as well.

Contact

To learn more about The Financial Education Benefits Center, please contact:

Financial Education Benefits Center
2010 Crow Canyon Place Ste. 100
San Ramon, CA 94583
1-800-953-1388
[email protected]

Related Links

FEBC home page

SOURCE Financial Education Benefits Center

Related Links

http://febcp.com