Anxiety and depression seminar set to take place next weekend in North Charleston, hosted by Trident Medical Center

North Charleston, South Carolina – Reports show that a growing number of people in America have been diagnosed with mental health illnesses, and this issue was additionally fueled by the pandemic, according to experts. Mental illnesses are common in the United States, and nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (52.9 million in 2020).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no single cause for mental illness, but a number of factors can contribute to the risk for mental illness, such as trauma or a history of abuse, experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical conditions, biological factors, use of alcohol or drugs, and having feelings of loneliness or isolation.

Since the start of the pandemic, health experts have been warning that the strict pandemic measures, especially lockdowns and closures, will further worsen this issue and that a growing number of people will experience mental illnesses in the post-pandemic era. Now that the country has reopened, their prediction has proven to be correct, particularly in young children, and experts attribute this to school closures and children’s inability to socialize for extended periods of time. The pandemic measures not only affected children’s mental health, but they also had a huge impact on the children’s immunity, resulting in a record-high number of flu cases among children in recent weeks.

Many people who suffer from depression or anxiety don’t seek and receive proper medical help. Sometimes the needed services are simply not available, so there is nowhere to turn. Even with available options, there are numerous other factors that prevent people from obtaining help – either to take the first step to meet with a practitioner or to pursue treatment once diagnosed. These people, however, have difficulties in their everyday lives.

That’s why Dr. Caroljane Roberson, a psychiatrist at the Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, decided to host a behavioral health disorders seminar next weekend and help those in need of proper medical help. The seminar will focus on anxiety and depression, two of the most common mental health illnesses among Americans.

The free, hour-long event is set to take place from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday in the hospital’s cafeteria. Although the event is free and everyone in need of help is encouraged to join, those interested are encouraged to RSVP by calling 843-797-3463 or registering online.

Dr. Caroljane Roberson said that she wants to help the Lowcountry residents who suffer from depression or anxiety by discussing types of care and treatments that will make their everyday lives easier.