11 Facts About Mental Health

1.  In 2010, there were an estimated 45.9 million adults (age 18 or older) in the US with a mental illness.
2. Mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.
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. 31.3 million adults (13.7% 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. Mental health conditions are the second most reason employees miss work. And by 2020, major depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.