JULY 18, 2023 - A ribbon-cutting was held on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, for a new mental health hospital in South Asheville. The 120 bed facility, owned and operated by Mission Health, will provide treatment to all age groups beginning at 4 years old and extending all the way through the geriatric years, providing separate indoor and outdoor facilities for both. In recent years, mental health concerns have increasingly come to the forefront, bringing awareness to a previously overlooked issue.
Experts from thesuggest that the current approach to measuring mental health may be more accurate for girls than boys, as research has predominantly focused on issues like eating disorders, anxiety, self-harm, and toxic social media use, which are more common among girls.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges for both young men and women. While the number of people between the ages of 12 and 25 getting antidepressantshave shown a significant increase in antidepressant prescriptions among individuals aged 12 to 25, with rates growing 63.5% faster than normal post-pandemic. However, the increase in prescriptions differs between genders, withobserved among teenage girls and women in their twenties after March 2020.
The reasons behind these gender disparities in mental health and antidepressant prescriptions need further research to understand the root cause of why men are not seeking medication at a higher rate. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at