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11 Facts About Mental Health

Welcome to DoSomething.org, a global movement of millions of young people making positive change, online and off! The 11 facts you want are below, and the sources for the facts are at the very bottom of the page. After you learn something, Do Something! Find out how to take action here.

  1. More than 50 million Americans struggle with mental illness.^[Mental Health America: Adult Data 2022. Accessed January 25, 2023.]
  2. 1 in 5 young people (age 13-18) has or will develop a mental illness in their lifetime.^["Mental Health Facts: Children and Teens." National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2017. Accessed May 7, 2019.]
  3. Youth depression rates have risen from 12.9% to 25.2% from pre-pandemic to 2021. Depression symptoms can impact performance in school and interfere with personal relationships.^[Haseltine, William, et al. "Depression And Anxiety Double In Youth Compared To Pre-Pandemic ," Forbes, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2023.]
  4. Most Americans lack access to adequate mental health treatment. 54.7% of American adults with mental illness did not receive care in the last year.^["State of Mental Health in America 2023," Mental Health America, 2023. Accessed January 25, 2023.]
  5. Mental illnesses can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, and ability to relate to others and daily functioning.^["What is Mental Health?" U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018. Accessed May 7, 2019.]
  6. Many factors contribute to the development of a mental health condition, including life experiences (such as trauma or a history of abuse), biological factors, and family history of mental illness.^["Mental Health Myths and Facts." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017. Accessed May 7, 2019.]
  7. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.^["Facts and Statistics." Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2017. Accessed May 7, 2019.]
  8. Members of LGBTQ+ community are almost 3 times more likely to experience a mental health condition such as major depression or generalized anxiety disorder.^["LGBTQ Support." National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2017. Accessed May 7, 2019.]
  9. Common signs of mental health issues include: extreme mood swings, changes in eating habits, excessive worrying or fear, problems concentrating, and avoiding friends or social activities.^["Know the Warning Signs." National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2018. Accessed May 7, 2019.]
  10. 1/2 of all mental illnesses show early signs before a person turns 14 years old, and 3/4 of mental illnesses begin before age 24.^["Mental Health Myths and Facts." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017. Accessed May 7, 2019.]
  11. More than 1 in 4 adults living with serious mental illnesses also struggles with substance abuse.^["Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019. Accessed May 7, 2019.]
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