facts about mental health
1 in 5 children ages 13-18 have, or will have a serious mental illness.
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in youth ages 10 - 24.
70% of youth in state and local juvenile justice systems have a mental illness.
37% of students with a mental health condition age 14 and older drop out of school—the highest dropout rate of any disability group.
1 in 5 adults in America experience a mental illness.
6.9% (16 million) of American adults live with major depression.
Approximately 26% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with serious mental illness.
Approximately 24% of state prisoners have “a recent history of a mental health condition”.
Nearly 60% of adults with a mental illness didn’t receive mental health services in the previous year.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
50% of mental illnesses show signs before a person turns 14 years old
Factors which contribute to mental illness include
Biological factors, such as genes, physical illness, injury, or brain chemistry
Life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse
Family history of mental health problems
Less than 20% of children and adolescents receive needed treatment for mental illnesses
Friends and family can be important influences to help someone get the treatment and services they need by:
Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help
Learning and sharing the facts about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn't true
Treating them with respect, just as you would anyone else
Refusing to define them by their diagnosis or using labels such as "crazy"