By Julia Cline

For The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON — While the government is trying to find ways to put money back into the pockets and bank accounts of Americans, mental-health specialists say that the poor economy is taking a toll on the nation’s emotional well-being.

“Lots of mental health problems are exacerbated by stress,” said Heather Richardson, adult outpatient clinician at the Center for Mental Health. “Homelessness, problems with housing or any financial problems can increase your stress level. So sometimes it worsens a mental illness that is already there, or people can develop depression or anxiety out of that stress.”

According to the Center, the agency gives assistance to some 6,000 people a year.

“If you are experiencing some financial problems, you might be feeling very alone,” said Richardson. “But you are absolutely not alone. Other people are experiencing similar things.”

People who are going through hard times can often find help closer to home, too — in a circle of friends, family members and church members.

“When you’re stressed, depressed or feeling alone, that’s the time when you need to reach out for others,” said Richardson. “Maybe that’s a family member, a pastor or a professional such as myself.”

For those who are friends or relatives of people suffering from the bad economy, Richardson has some advice: Be available to listen.

“See if there’s a need that that person might have that they’re not expressing,” she said. “A lot of times there’s embarrassment. We feel ashamed if we have to rely, even temporarily, on food pantries or food stamps. So people don’t want to acknowledge what exactly they need.”

Nancy Fischer, professor of sociology at Anderson University, agreed that people need to be willing to accept help during hard times.

“People certainly make mistakes and poor decisions,” she said, “but they don’t always have the same access to the resources they need — like good schools, transportation, community resources. When there are cutbacks, whether it’s training or program cutbacks on federal assistance, people get hurt by that. And while there’s an expectation that people will try to get themselves out of this bind, sometimes they need additional help.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, only 80 percent of people with depression seek treatment. One of the main reasons some people go untreated is the reason that they’re depressed in the first place — financial trouble.

“I see a greater need for mental-health services with the economic downturn,” said Richardson. “However, (treatment) is seen as a financial burden for people, so they will delay services, come less often, or not come at all.”

Help is available in Madison County — even on a budget. The Center for Mental Health will meet with a potential client to determine whether discounts of up to 90 percent can be applied. Group-counseling sessions also can cost less.