Mental health challenges are rising across the country, but the impact in Western North Carolina is especially significant. According to the WNC Health Network, the percentage of adults reporting more than seven days of poor mental health in a single month has increased from about 13 percent in 2015 to roughly 22 percent in 2021. That means more than one in five adults in our region spends at least a week each month feeling emotionally overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, or unable to cope.

In addition, about 7.8 percent of adults in Western North Carolina reported seriously considering suicide in the previous year. These numbers tell an important story: people in our community are struggling with their emotional well-being, and many are not getting the support they need.

At Silver Ridge Recovery in Asheville, we work with adults who are facing both substance use and co occurring mental health conditions. The individuals who come to us often feel exhausted by stress, weighed down by anxiety or depression, or stuck in patterns they cannot break. The trends across Western North Carolina mirror what we see every day: people are hurting, and many turn to alcohol or drugs to cope when emotional pain becomes too heavy.

What Is a “Poor Mental Health Day”

A poor mental health day does not always look like a crisis. It can include:

• persistent anxiety
• difficulty concentrating
• low motivation
• irritability or emotional overload
• depression or sadness
• feeling detached or numb
• struggling to complete daily tasks

When these days stretch into a full week each month, emotional strain becomes a long term issue that can spill into every part of a person’s life. Over time, adults may feel drained, disconnected, or unable to manage stress without relying on unhealthy coping tools.

Why Poor Mental Health Days Are Increasing in WNC

These rising numbers have several possible explanations:

1. More Adults Are Experiencing Chronic Stress

Job strain, financial pressure, burnout, and caregiving responsibilities have grown significantly in recent years. Long term stress drains emotional resilience and makes it harder to cope with daily life.

2. Limited Access to Mental Health Support

Many adults in Western North Carolina who need support do not receive it. Barriers include:

• long wait times for counseling
• difficulty finding providers who treat trauma and addiction together
• cost of ongoing therapy
• stigma around seeking help

When support feels out of reach, symptoms often worsen.

3. Increased Isolation and Disconnection

Adults today are more likely to feel lonely or overwhelmed, even while staying busy. This lack of connection increases emotional struggles and can push people toward substances as a way to escape or self soothe.

4. Unresolved Trauma

Many adults carry unresolved trauma that resurfaces during stressful life periods. Trauma often contributes to both mental health symptoms and substance use patterns.

5. Substance Use as a Coping Strategy

When emotional pain builds and stress becomes too heavy, alcohol or drugs can become a quick but temporary relief. Over time, this relief turns into dependence or a worsening cycle.

The Rise in Suicidal Thoughts Is a Concerning Signal

Nearly eight percent of adults reporting suicidal thoughts is a call for more support and more accessible treatment options. Suicidal thinking often reflects:

• untreated depression
• emotional exhaustion
• trauma
• overwhelming shame
• substance use
• hopelessness about the future

Adults often hide these feelings and appear functional on the outside, which makes early intervention more important.

How Residential Addiction Treatment Supports People With Co Occurring Mental Health Needs

Silver Ridge Recovery is designed for adults who are struggling with both addiction and mental health concerns that cannot be addressed through outpatient care alone. While we do not provide inpatient psychiatric treatment, we do offer residential support for adults facing co occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and emotional dysregulation alongside substance use.

Residential treatment helps by offering:

1. Distance From Stress and Habitual Patterns

Stepping away from familiar environments allows adults to reset and focus on their well being without the pressure of home, work, or old triggers.

2. A Whole Person Approach

Clients participate in:

• individual therapy
• trauma informed approaches
• mindfulness and somatic work
• experiential and evidence based therapies
• group therapy designed for adult emotional development

This creates space to understand the deeper issues behind addiction and emotional distress.

3. Supportive Community and Connection

Being surrounded by other adults who are facing similar struggles reduces shame and isolation. Many clients say it is the first time they have felt understood in years.

4. Skills for Managing Poor Mental Health Days

Clients learn practical tools for:

• regulating emotions
• calming the nervous system
• managing anxiety
• coping with depressive thoughts
• recognizing early signs of relapse

These skills help break the cycle of using substances to cope with emotional pain.

5. A Peaceful Environment for Reflective Healing

Silver Ridge is located in the mountains of Asheville, a quiet setting that encourages grounding, reflection, and gentle restoration.

Why These Trends Matter

The rise in poor mental health days is not just a statistic. It represents real people who feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or desperate for relief. Many of them turn to substances to cope. Without the right support, the cycle continues.

Silver Ridge Recovery offers a safe, residential environment where adults can address both addiction and the emotional challenges underneath it. When people are given space, support, and the right therapeutic tools, healing becomes possible.

You are not alone, and help is available. Silver Ridge Recovery is here to help adults build stability, resilience, and a path forward.