Latesnt News Stories:
Fentanyl Tainted Pills Bought on Social Media Cause Youth Drug Deaths to Soar
Stigma Is The “Mark” Resulting From The Judgment By Others; In This Case, The Judgment Of Those With A Mental Illness. That Judgment Is Often Rooted In A Lack Knowledge Or Training. The Resulting Shame Or Embarrassment From Stigma Is Cited As A Primary Reason Why Many People Do Not Seek Help When They Experience Symptoms.
Mental illness is far more common than people realize. Consider these statistics:
- 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.1
- Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada. 2
- Half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders begin by age 14.3
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth ages 15 to 24.4 Over 90 percent of children and adolescents who commit suicide have a mental disorder.5
- Despite its prevalence in our society, mental health still has stigma attached to it.
- That’s what we want to change. Sharing statistics, facts, information, resources…whatever it takes to help all understand that mental illnesses – from depression to anxiety to more serious and persistent diseases such as bipolar disorder – are treatable diseases.
Sources:
1., 3. National Institute of Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml
2. The World Health Organization http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/GBD_report_2004update_AnnexA.pdf
4 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action. Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 2001.
5. Shaffer, D., & Craft, L. “Methods of Adolescent Suicide Prevention.” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60 (Suppl. 2), 70-74, 1999.
Drug & Alcohol Abuse Statistics:
- 22% of males and 17% of females used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year.
- 5% of people in non-metropolitan, rural countries used illegal drugs compared to 20.2% of people in larger metropolitan counties.
- Drug use is highest among persons between the ages of 18-25 at 39% compared to persons ages 26-29, at 34%.
- 70% of users who try an illegal drug before age 13 develop a substance abuse disorder within the next 7 years compared to 27% of those who try an illegal drug after age 17.
- 47% of young people use an illegal drug by the time they graduate from high school; other users within the last 30 days include:
- 5% of 8th graders
- 20% of 10th graders
- 24% of 12th graders
For more info, go to: The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics