How common is mental illness?

Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion — about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 — who suffer from a serious mental illness. Serious mental illness also affects about 1 in 5 families. In Danbury, based on an estimated 80,000 population, about 5,000 of our neighbors are living with a serious mental illness. Roughly 200,000 people in the state of CT are effected by serious mental illness (based on 3,000,000 population).

Many people suffer from more than one mental illness at a given time. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for 2 or more disorders.

Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year (major and minor). When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people. Roughly 3 Million People (1% of adult population) in the U.S. have Schizophrenia. Roughly 21 Million people (7% of adult population) have Major Depression. Roughly 5.7 million peoples (2.6% of  population) have BiPolar Disorder. Roughly 54 million people (18% of population) have some form of Anxiety Disorder.  Mental illnesses strike individuals in the prime of their lives, often during adolescence and young adulthood. All ages are susceptible, but the young and the old are especially vulnerable. How does mental illness affect society?

The burden of mental illness on health and productivity in the United States and throughout the world has long been underestimated. Data developed by the massive Global Burden of Disease study conducted by the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and Harvard University, reveal that mental illness, including suicide, accounts for over 15 percent of the burden of disease in established market economies, such as the United States. This is more than the disease burden caused by all cancers. Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives; The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than $100 billion each year in the United States. Mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.  Are there treatments for mental illness?

The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective; 70% and 90% of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of "pharmacological" (medicine) support and "psychosocial" treatments (counseling and related treatment). Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; By getting people the treatment they need early, recovery is accelerated and the brain is protected from further harm related to the course of illness.  What is Stigma? Stigma consists of untrue portrayals (either visually, verbally, or written) of an illness or condition. Stigma erodes confidence that mental disorders are real, treatable health conditions. Stigma sets up barriers to people getting treatment and help for their mental illness. Stigma must end.

Information above is from NAMI, NIMH, the US Census Bureau, the World Health Organization, and independent studies.  Learn more about mental illness, homelessness, and other related topics with additional facts and statistics [more...]