Mental Illness in America: One in Five Adults Live with Mental Illness

A new report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that nearly one in five adults live with a mental illness in America, and one in 25 lives with severe symptoms of mental illness. This means that at some point in their lives, the average American will live with the effects of an anxiety disorder or depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or another debilitating mental health condition. Mental illnesses are real and treatable diseases that affect one’s thoughts, emotions and behavior—and they can impact everything from personal relationships to employment to school achievement. When they go untreated, they can lead to disability and even suicide.

Intro

Mental illness is a common and widespread issue. Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Unfortunately, many people don’t talk about it and mental illnesses are largely misunderstood by those who don’t suffer from them. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t resources to help you or your loved ones if you need it! Here are some resources to check out if you think you or someone you know might have a mental illness. 

What is Mental Illness? (Center for Disease Control) - The CDC has put together an excellent resource on what exactly constitutes a mental illness, including symptoms and treatments. You can find information on different types of mental illnesses here as well as their prevalence among different populations. Additionally, they have specific resources for parents whose children may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness. 

At What Age Does Suicide Become Most Common? (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) - The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has put together a great resource that breaks down when suicide rates are highest across all age groups as well as which groups face higher risks than others. It also discusses warning signs and how to get help if needed. If I Have Thoughts About Killing Myself Should I Tell Someone?

What are they?

These are seven development goals that will be a part of sustainable development: no poverty; zero hunger; good health and wellbeing; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable, reliable energy. The SDGs replace eight Millennium Development Goals set out by 189 world leaders at a summit 10 years ago. 

The time period for each goal is either 15 years (as with ending extreme poverty) or 2030 (most goals). In order to achieve these goals, governments, businesses and other actors need to make policies focused on these issues and invest in them accordingly. There needs to be an alignment between all three sectors—private, public and civil society—in order to have any chance of achieving these goals. All countries have signed up to these goals but it’s about action now—it’s not enough just signing up. 

What does mental illness mean?: According to WHO, mental illness means a wide range of disorders including depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder which affect how we think, feel or behave. They can interfere with personal relationships and work life as well as causing distress and problems functioning in society.

How many Americans have them?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 300 million people globally experience some form of mental illness. Anxiety disorders affect 18% (or 40 million) U.S. adults, according to data released by the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH). The NIMH reports that nearly 7% (19 million) American adults have a depressive disorder; 2 million have schizophrenia, and 3.5 million Americans live with a bipolar disorder. In addition, 6.2 million children between ages 5–17 were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as reported by Medscape Medical News. All told, it is estimated that one out of every five individuals will suffer from a diagnosable mental illness at some point during their lifetime. 

Why do we need them?: According to WHO: Mental health is an integral part of human well-being and is essential for effective functioning in work, education, family life and personal relationships. Many studies show how important it is for people to be mentally healthy so they can function well both at work and at home.

Living with Mental Illness

According to those with a mental illness, symptoms are characterized by four main areas that affect functioning: cognition (e.g., concentration), mood (e.g., depression), ability to reason and function appropriately socially, behavior, and/or physical health. While many people also experience one or more additional symptoms related to sleep quality and pain. The most common types of mental illnesses are anxiety disorders such as phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); mood disorders such as major depressive disorder; behavioral disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder; substance use disorders; psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder or manic episode; neurocognitive disorders affecting memory loss or neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis. 

Mental Illness Statistics: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year over 450 million people worldwide suffer from some form of mental illness. In fact, every five seconds someone somewhere dies due to suicide – which is now considered an epidemic on its own. Furthermore, it is estimated that only 40% of people living with a mental health condition receive treatment for their condition - largely due to lack of awareness and stigma surrounding mental health issues. Although there has been progress in recent years towards improving access to care for those who need it, there is still much work left be done - especially when considering that over half of all deaths globally are attributable to noncommunicable diseases including depression.

Treating them

The good news is that many mental illnesses are treatable. Depending on your situation, treatment can include medication, therapy or both. When it comes to dealing with mental illness, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about—it affects millions of people and can be managed effectively. The best way to prevent relapse is by sticking with treatment over time. For example, if you have schizophrenia, taking medication regularly will lower your risk for relapsing compared to only taking it when you start having symptoms again. 

As such, talk to your doctor about what long-term treatment plan works best for you. And remember: Don’t give up on treatment just because you have a setback; take it as an opportunity to adjust and re-start your plan. Recovery from mental illness is possible but requires effort from both patients and doctors. If someone has told you they are struggling with a mental health condition, listen without judgment and offer support as needed (or encouraged). You may also want to learn more about how substance use disorders affect health outcomes for those living with a mental illness; studies show that heavy alcohol use among those with bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety is linked with poorer physical health outcomes.

Stigma of mental illness

The stigma associated with mental health makes those living with mental illness less likely to seek treatment and more likely to experience a poor quality of life. There are four main types of stigma that affect people with mental illness. They are: 1) Stigma due to judgment and discrimination, 2) Physical appearance stigma, 3) Communication stigma, and 4) Stigma because of lack of knowledge about mental illness. Overcoming these stigmas is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals for health. 

People need to be educated on what mental illnesses are, what they look like and how they can be treated. This will help create an environment where people feel comfortable seeking out services when needed. In order to overcome stigma there needs to be increased awareness and education around mental illnesses at all levels of society from government officials down to teachers in classrooms. People need access to affordable care from qualified professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers who can provide counseling or other forms of therapy for individuals suffering from severe depression or anxiety. Finally, it’s important that we treat everyone equally regardless if they have been diagnosed with a mental illness or not as having one doesn’t mean you aren’t capable of being a productive member of society.