WARREN — Deerfield Behavioral Health (DBH), an affiliate of Journey Health System, is taking part in recognizing National Mental Health Awareness Month.

This year, they are focused on raising awareness about mental health issues and highlighting the importance of well-being in the community.

Mental Health impacts everyone, regardless of age, background or circumstance. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the observed prevalence of any mental illness was higher among females (26.4%) than males (19.7%). These individuals could be close to us or even ourselves.

“Encouraging people to open up about their conditions is likely to play a strong and important role in destigmatizing mental disorders,” said DBH Executive Director Dr. Kim Thurston.

“Thankfully, our highly- skilled mental health team is always here to support our adults and youth through their healing journey, helping them recover and reassuring them that they are not alone.”

DBH has been serving mental health care needs in Erie, McKean, Forest and Warren counties since 1991. Deerfield Behavioral Health offers the following services: Therapy, psychiatric contracting, and tele-psychiatry.

Deerfield Centers for Drug & Alcohol Treatment offers the following services: Assessments, outpatient services, intensive outpatient services, medication assisted treatment, certified recovery services. If you or a loved one struggle from mental health or drug and alcohol challenges, don’t suffer in silence. Talk to someone about your feelings – a primary care physician, a psychiatrist, a counselor/therapist, a teacher, a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend or a co-worker. Also, remember the 988 crisis lifeline is always available.

For further information about DBH programs, visit deerfieldbehavioralhealth. org.