Over the past couple of years, the pandemic has, and continues to adversely impact our mental health.

World Mental Health Day falls on October 10, 2022. We are celebrating this day by having our own event, Pursuit of Happiness: Headwaters Counseling Edition 2022.

What is Pursuit of Happiness?

This fun filled and informative evening will be filled with games, food, information, prizes, auctions, and raffles. This is one of the ways we hope to rekindle awareness and acceptance of this emotionally charged, misunderstood concept.

An estimated one in eight people globally are living with a mental disorder. Services, skills and funding available for mental health remain in short supply, and fall far below what is needed, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In the United States funding is below what is needed.

Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic. At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted and the treatment gap for mental health conditions has widened.

The pandemic has created a global crisis for mental health, fueling short- and long-term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions. 

How does this affect our community?

The issues that we see at a world-wide level, we also see at a local level. Here in Indiana, Allen County, and specifically Fort Wayne, the demand for services is increasing, the need has never been greater and the resources need to be there for the community to access.

40% of Allen County respondents in a United Way survey said they felt they could benefit from seeking treatment from a mental health professional. Of those who felt they might benefit, only 35% sought treatment.

Fort Wayne, like the rest of the nation, is experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals that can effectively help individuals address their mental health needs.

The shortage and increased demand for services has caused wait times for services at nearly every facility/agency, and sometimes the wait can be for weeks, if not months.

How can we help?

Can an agency like Headwaters Counseling fix the world? Of course not, but we can and will address the needs in our community.

We must strengthen mental health care so that the full spectrum of mental health needs is met through a community-based network of accessible, affordable and quality services and supports. 

Stigma continues to be a barrier to social inclusion and access to the right care; we can all play our part in increasing awareness about which preventive mental health interventions work and World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to do that collectively. 

Join us at Pursuit of Happiness on October 13

Simply, we are having an event to raise awareness and funding. It is 2 ½ hours of food, fun, and games. This is an affordable evening to be with friends, make new friends, and better understand mental health and what Headwaters Counseling is doing to help the community.

We want a community where everyone has an equal opportunity to exercise their human rights and enjoy good mental health; where mental health is valued, promoted and protected and everyone can access the care they need.

Have questions? Please reach out to Executive Director Stephen Jarrell for more information.