Mental Health
Facts About Mental Disorders
Facts from the American Psychiatric Association
During any one-year period, up to 50 million Americans -- more than 22 percent -- suffer from a clearly diagnosable mental disorder involving a degree of incapacity that interferes with relationships, employment, attendance at school, or activities of daily life. Consider these facts from the American Psychiatric Association:
- 20 percent of the ailments for which Americans seek a doctor's care are related to anxiety disorders such as panic attacks, that interfere with their ability to live normal lives.
- Some 8 million to 14 million Americans suffer from depression each year. As many as one in five Americans will suffer at least one episode of major depression during their lifetimes.
- About 12 million children under 18 suffer from mental disorders such as autism, depression, and hyperactivity.
- Two million Americans suffer from schizophrenic disorders and 300,000 new cases occur each year.
- 15.4 million American adults and 4.6 million adolescents experience serious alcohol-related problems, and another 12.5 million suffer from drug abuse or dependence.
- Nearly one-fourth of the elderly who are labeled as senile actually suffer some form of mental illness that can be effectively treated.
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24.
- Studies by the U.S. Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration indicate:
- men are more likely to suffer from drug and alcohol abuse and personality disorders
- women are at higher risk of suffering from depression and anxiety disorders
The personal and social costs that result from untreated mental disorders are considerable:
- The direct costs for support and medical treatment of mental illnesses total $55.4 billion a year.
- The direct costs of substance abuse disorders comes to $11.4 billion a year.
- Indirect costs such as lost employment, reduced productivity, criminal activity, vehicular accidents and social welfare programs increase the total cost of mental and substance abuse disorders to more than $273 billion a year.
This page was last updated on: May 30, 2006.
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