Resources

Facts About Mental Illness

Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning…mental illnesses are medical conditions that result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

…1 in 17 Americans live with a serious mental illness (National Alliance on Mental Illness )

The U.S. Surgeon General reports that 10 percent of children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders that cause significant functional impairment in their day-to-day lives at home, in school and with peers (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

Mental illness usually strikes individuals in the prime of their lives, often during adolescence and young adulthood (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

Mental illnesses and severe emotional disturbances are biologically based disorders (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

Five percent of adults, or about 10 million Americans have a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder (National Alliance on Mental Illness )

Ten percent of children and adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause some level of impairment (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

Depressive disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse (National Institute of Mental Health ).

Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 – 44 (National Institute of Mental Health ).

Major Depressive Disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or adult 6.7 percent of the U.S. population aged 18 and older in a given year (National Institute of Mental Health ).

More than 90% of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable mental disorder, most commonly a depressive disorder or a substance abuse disorder (National Institute of Mental Health ).

Approximately 2.4 million American adults, or about 1.1 percent of the population aged 18 and older, in a given year, have schizophrenia (National Institute of Mental Health ).

As many as one in 33 children and one in eight adolescents have clinical depression ( www.depressionhelpspot.com ).

Mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease (A Source of Hope for All ).

Mental illnesses do not discriminate – they can affect anyone, men, women and children regardless of gender, race, ethnicity and socio-economic status (A Source of Hope for All ).

Approximately 40% of the people who are homeless in America suffer from serious and persistent mental illnesses. Many of these individuals also suffer from co-occurring substance abuse disorders (U.S. Conference of Mayors).

It is estimated that 60% of all persons with mental illness are willing to work but unable to over come the barriers (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

Some cases of mental illness are long-term, severe and persistent…the quality of life for such individuals can be improved by their focusing on their recovery and well-being and by access to services (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

A growing body of evidence shows that most mentally ill persons in need of treatment can be served more effectively, and at less cost, in community settings than in traditional psychiatric hospitals (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

The most effective treatment for mental disorders addresses all relevant issues, which may include securing affordable housing, income support, health care services, employment training, social services, social and recreational opportunities and appropriate medications (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).

Stigma discourages many individuals and their families from even seeking treatment for mental illness and severe emotional disturbances (National Alliance on Mental Illness ).