Fast Facts on Mental Health

As the nation takes a closer look at the effects of mental health across America, there is more information and data available than ever before. Below, you’ll find some enlightening facts about the impact of mental illness across the United States and discover that you are not alone in your fight.

  • Approximately 20% of Americans age 18 or older have experienced mental illness in the past year.
  • The rate of mental illness among those aged 18 to 25 years was 29.9% vs. 14.3% among Americans aged 50 years and older.
  • Four million adults (5% of the US adult population) suffered from a severe mental illness, which was defined as a mental illness that resulted in severe functional impairment that substantially interfered with or limited one or more major life activities.
  • Seven million Americans considered suicide during the past year. Of these, 2.5 million made suicide plans, and 1.1 million attempted suicide.
  • Rates of substance abuse among adults who had experienced mental illness within the past year were three times higher compared with those who had no mental illness in the past year — 20% vs. 6.1%.
  • The rate of substance abuse or dependence was 25.2% among those with serious mental illness.
  • Nine million youth aged 12 to 17 years (8% of this population) had experienced a major depressive episode in the past year.
  • Suicide was the seventh leading cause of death for males and the fifteenth leading cause of death for females in 2007 (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Seven percent of adults age 18 and older in the United States had thought about suicide, 1.0% of adults had made plans to commit suicide, and 0.5% of adults had attempted suicide. (Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings)
  • In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. Of every 100,000 young people in each age group, the following number died by suicide:
    • Children ages 10 to 14 — 0.9 per 100,000
    • Adolescents ages 15 to 19 — 6.9 per 100,000
    • Young adults ages 20 to 24 — 12.7 per 100,000

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide a no-cost mental health assessment for you or your loved one. Call us at 800-256-5300, visit our facility, or message us to get started. In the case of a medical emergency or crisis, please dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.