11 Facts About Mental Health

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1. In 2014, there were an estimated 43.6 million adults (age 18 or older) in the US with a mental illness.
2. 20% of youth (ages 13-18) live with a mental health condition.
3. More than 2/3 of Americans who have a mental illness live in the community and lead productive lives.
4. Mental illnesses can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. It is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, and ability to relate to others and daily functioning.
5. Serious mental illnesses include: major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder.
6. As of 2013, 34.6 million adults (14.6% of the population) received mental health services during the past 12 months.
7. Mental illness and intellectual disability are not the same. Mental illness affects a person's thinking, mood, and behavior, whereas those with an intellectual disability experience limitations in intellectual function and difficulties with certain skills
8. 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the US and other developed countries are: mental disorders, which include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
9. Between 70 and 90% of people with mental illnesses experience a significant reduction of symptoms and an improved quality of life, with proper care and treatment.
10. Every year, as many as 8 million Americans who have serious mental illnesses don't receive adequate treatment.
11. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Sources

1. NIH. " Any Mental Illness (AMI) Among U.S. Adults." National Institute of Mental Health. Accessed October 31, 2016.
2. NAMI. "Mental Health Facts: Children and Teens." National Alliance on Mental Illness. Accessed November 1, 2016.
3. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. "Fast Facts About Basic Mental Health." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Publications. Accessed April 28, 2014.
4. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. "Fast Facts About Basic Mental Health." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Publications. Accessed April 28, 2014.
5. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. "Fast Facts About Basic Mental Health." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Publications. Accessed April 28, 2014.
6. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. "Results from the 2013 NSDUH: Mental Health Findings, SAMHSA, CBHSQ." The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Accessed October 31, 2016.
7. Inclusion Europe, and Mental Health Europe. "Mental Illness and Intellectual Disability." Cornell University ILR School Research. Accessed April 28, 2014.
8. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. "Fast Facts About Basic Mental Health." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Publications. Accessed April 28, 2014.
9. NAMI. "About Mental Illness." National Alliance on Mental Illness. Accessed April 28, 2014.
10. Kirkbride Center. "Mental Health Facts." Kirkbride Center. Accessed April 28, 2014.
11. NAMI. "Mental Health Facts: In America." National Alliance on Mental Illness. Accessed November 1, 2016.