The Numbers Don't Lie

In my first post, I talked about the Silent Epidemic, the current mental health crisis. The main reason I've made creating #mental health awareness my primary focus was the statistics that were shared in my recent classes at Light University. Seven years ago, when I started working in Mental Health, the numbers were upsetting. Now they are dire!

1 out of 4 families has a member with a Mental Health Disorder or 1 out of every 5 people.

1/2 of mental illnesses show up by age 14.

3/4 show up by age 24.

It's estimated that 80% of these are untreated.

Depression is the #1 disability in the world.

Anger is the leading cause of death.

50% of the population struggles with #alcohol abuse, affecting 1/3 of all families.

Over 140,000 people in the USA die yearly from AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder).

Worldwide the number is over 3 million.

Substance abuse is a related factor in:

30 -60% of child abuse cases

52% of assaults

37% of rapes

30 -50% of suicides

60% of homicides

23 million adults in the USA have a #drug use disorder.

40% of these also have a Mental Health disorder.

Less than 50% of these receive treatment.

Heroin use is at a 20-year high.

The death rate for this has quadrupled.

3.8 million adults misuse prescription drugs.

Only 20% of these receive treatment.

Suicide is the 10th cause of death in the USA.

48,180 per year or 132 per day.

Estimated suicide attempts are 1.4 million per year.

Death rates by suicide are increasing, especially in children.

90% of suicide victims have a mental illness.

22 Veterans commit suicide every day.

The classes I recently completed were by various professors & most did not give their sources. The classes were pre-recorded sessions, meaning that the data was probably several years old when I viewed the classes. There are various agencies that collect & compile this info. There's extensive info online about MH statistics.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a Mental Health Expert. I am certified, not licensed. I write based on my training and experience. You may not always agree with me. That's okay. My intent is to create awareness of the current mental health crisis.