The Facts

Mental health problems affect everyone, and are actually very common.  In 2011, about:

• One in four American adults experienced a mental health issue
• One in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression
• One in 20 Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression

Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States.  It accounts for the loss of more than 38,000 American lives each year, more than double the number of lives due to homicide.

Even very young children may show early warning signs of mental health concerns.  These mental health problems are often clinically diagnosable, and can be a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24.

Unfortunately, less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need.  Early mental health support can help a child before the problems interfere with other developmental needs.

The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent that anyone else.  Most people with mental illnesses are not violent and only 3%-5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals with a serious mental illness.  In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crimes than the general population.  You probably know someone with a mental health problem and don’t even realize it, because many people with mental health problems are highly active and productive members of our communities.

People with mental health problems are just as productive as other employees.  Employers who hire people with mental health problems report good attendance and punctuality as well as motivation, good work, and job tenure on par with or greater than other employees.  When employees with mental health problems receive effective treatment, it can result in:

• Lower total medical cost
• Increased productivity
• Lower absenteeism
• Decreased disability cost

Mental health problems have nothing to do with a character flaws, laziness, or being weak.

Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

• Biological factors, such as genes, family history, physical illness, injury, or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma, bullying, or a history of abuse

Just because people have a mental health problem, does not mean they cannot get better- many people recover completely.

Check out the Depression Army to read more about defeating the stigma against mental illness.

There is hope! Studies show that most people with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.

Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. With the proper support, treatment, and services, people can recover completely. Check out what can help you here!

Everybody is different! Treatment for mental health problems varies depending on the individual and could include medication, therapy, or both. No one treatment is better than another and you should see what treatment works best for you before making any decisions.

Friends and loved ones can make a big difference.  Only 38% of adults with diagnosable mental health problems (and less than 20% of children and adolescents!) receive the needed treatment for their mental health problems.  Friends and family can be important influences to help someone get the treatment and services they need by:

• Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help
• Helping them access mental health services
• Learning and sharing facts about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn’t true
• Treating them with respect, just as you would anyone else
• Refusing to define them by their diagnosis or using labels such as “crazy”

Prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders focuses on addressing known risk factors such as exposure to trauma that can affect the chances that children, youth, and young adults will develop mental health problems.  Promoting the social-emotional well-being of children and youth leads to:

• Higher overall productivity
• Better educational outcomes
• Lower crime rates
• Stronger economies
• Lower health care costs
• Improved quality of life
• Increased lifespan
• Improved family life

Mental illness can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter what you look like, where you live or where you are from.

Behavior problems can be symptoms of emotional, behavioral, or mental problems, rather than merely attention-seeking devices.  These children can succeed in school with appropriate understanding, attention, and mental health services.

Any substance that can lead to addiction and dependence can be dangerous. Even a substance that has a low-level risk of addiction can cause problems for the individual using.

Addicts may not necessarily get over their addiction, however, they can learn to manage it. There are many resources addicts can use to be active and maintain their recovery. Read Ally’s blog about how she expresses her life in recovery!