Thursday, February 21, 2013

Mental Illness Statistics - How Sick Are We?

Mental Illness Statistics - How Sick Are We?

Exactly how many people are mentally ill? What are the most common mental illnesses? How do mental illnesses affect men, women, seniors and children differently? For answers to these questions and more, here are some illuminating mental illness statistics.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the number of people in the United States who experience a mental health problem each year is now 1 in 3, which means a huge increase from its 2004 statistic of 1 in 4. About 5 to 6 percent of the population suffers from a serious chronic mental disorders. Almost half of these individuals suffer from two or more mental illnesses at the same time.
The most commonly reported type of mental disorder is anxiety disorder, followed by mood disorders, substance abuse problems and impulse control disorders. Around 10 percent of all children suffer from some type of mental disorder. 70 percent of all mental disorders begin to show symptoms during childhood or adolescence. Mental illness is the leading cause of disability among people from age 15 to 44 in the United States and Canada. 20 percent of people who have a mental disorders also have a co-occurring substance abuse problem. Over 90 percent of those who commit suicide suffer from diagnosable mental disorders. Women with mental illnesses are two to three times more likely than men to attempt suicide, but men are four times more likely to succeed. The highest suicide rate is among white men over 85 years of age. Dementia and mood disorders, especially depression, are much higher for the senior population. Women are more likely than men to report mental problems, seek treatment, and successfully complete treatment. Men are more than twice as likely as women to have substance abuse problems, with alcohol being the most common. Women are more likely than men to suffer from anxiety and mood disorders.
Women show schizophrenia symptoms later than men. Men usually start showing symptoms in their late teens or early twenties; women are more likely to do so in their late twenties and early thirties. Around 2.4 percent of the US population suffers from schizophrenia. About 1 in 17 Americans suffer from schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder. The rate of mental disorder is much higher among people living below poverty. Mental illness is the 3rd largest cause of homelessness. Finally, which country has the highest rates of mental disorders? The United States does with its whopping 26 percent. This means that in a family of four, one person is likely to suffer from some kind of mental problem. However, it's important to realize that the US is the country with the most reported mental illness. Many countries don't have the mental illness resources and infrastructure that the US does. Furthermore, in many countries mental problems carry a social stigma and are underreported.
To read more about schizoaffective disorder symptoms please feel free to visit my site http://www.mentalillnesstest.org.

No comments:

Post a Comment