Facts About Mental Illness

 

• Poor mental health increases the risk for long-lasting (chronic) physical conditions like heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

 

• About 1 in 5 American adults and 1 in 5 children will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives.

 

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 15-34 in the United States.

 

• Mental illness can be treated. Research shows that people with mental illness can get better and many recover completely.

 

• Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being.

 

• If you know someone with poor mental health, you can help by reaching out and letting them know help is available, helping them access mental health services, and learning and sharing the facts about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn't true.

 

• The vast majority of people with mental illness are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. In fact, people with mental illnesses are more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.

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• Half of all mental illness occurs before a person turns 14 years old, and three-quarters of mental illness begin before age 24.

 

• Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.

 

• Mental illness is caused by a number of factors including biological factors, stressful or traumatic life events, and long-lasting health conditions such as heart disease or cancer.

 

         This information is courtesy of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/quiz/index.htm