September is National/Ohio Recovery Month
Published: September 11, 2017
Celebrate Recovery Month & Support Behavioral Healthcare
Every September we celebrate Ohio and National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and to encourage individuals in need of treatment and recovery services to seek help. Recovery Month celebrates people in long-term recovery and recognizes the dedicated workers who provide prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for behavioral health, including gambling disorders.
This year’s Recovery Month theme highlights the partners that support recovery within our society. The theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Strengthen Families and Communities,” encourages communities to be socially inclusive, offering support to those with mental and/or substance use, or gambling disorders, as well as the chance to seek help, lend a hand, and contribute to their community as citizens, parents, employees, students, volunteers, and leaders. To promote the month’s events and theme in your community, check out the Recovery Month tools here.
An important part of Recovery Month is remembering that thousands of Ohioans recover from problem gambling and gambling disorder each year. Problem gambling impacts less than 5% of Ohioans, but it’s a serious public health concern similar to other addictive disorders that can ultimately lead to psychological, social, financial, and legal problems. Additionally, gambling disorder is strongly associated with increased incidence of suicide attempts, substance use disorders, and other behavioral health conditions.
Some of the groups most affected by gambling disorder include young adults, especially men, older adults, African Americans, and military personnel. The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that nearly 56,000 active duty service members meet the criteria for gambling disorder. Yet, due to the stigma associated with the disorder and the lack of screening for this issue in any population, few people seek help.
Recovery Month is a time to shine a light on the fact that prevention works; treatment is effective and people recover – from mental and/or substance use, or gambling disorders.
The Recovery Month website provides printable materials, web, television, audio, and social media resources to help communities plan events, educate individuals about behavioral health concerns, and to encourage individuals and families to seek treatment and recovery services.