Mental Health Problems Affect Everyone
Myth: Mental health problems don't affect me.
Fact: Mental health problems are actually very common. In 2020, about:
1 in 5
American adults experienced a mental health issue
1 in 6
young people experienced a major depressive episode
1 in 20
Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression
Myth: Children don't experience mental health problems.
Fact: Starting at an early age young children may show warning signs of mental health problems. These mental health problems are often clinically diagnosable, and can be a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.
50%
of all mental health disorders show first signs before the age of 14 years old, and three-quarters [75%] of mental health disorders begin before age 24 years old.
1 in 5
children in the U.S. have a diagnosable mental health condition.
10 - 24 years old
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for children and adolescents ages 10 – 24 years.
Sadly, only half of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need. Early mental health support can help a child before problems interfere with other developmental needs.
Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable.
Fact: The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else.
Most people with mental illness are not violent and only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness.
In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime 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.
Alcohol Use Disorder in the United States
Substance use disorders (SUDs) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are chronic and treatable conditions from which people can recover.
Over 140,000 Americans die from the use of alcohol in an average year. 1-in-10 Americans over the age of 12 years have Alcohol Use Disorder.
Sources:
Department of Health and Human Services, 2022. Accessed August 2022, https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts