Mental illness is an important public health problem. About 25% of U.S. adults have a mental illness but also because it is associated with chronic medical diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Mental health problems are actually very common. In 2014, about:
- One in five American adults experienced a mental health issue.
- One in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression.
- One in 25 Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. It accounts for the loss of more than 41,000 American lives each year, more than double the number of lives lost to homicide.
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Mentalhealth.gov