11 Facts About Mental Health

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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.]