According to recent studies, mental illnesses affect nearly 13% of the world’s population. Many people think that mental illness only involves problems with brain development. However, it’s a vast field, and people must know what mental health actually means to better understand the problems associated with it.
What is mental illness?
Mental illness has two categories: Any Mental Illness (AMI) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association defines Any Mental Illness as experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health disorders that meet the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
On the other hand, Serious Mental Illness means mental disorders that limit or affect your major life activities. Some of the most common mental illnesses you will often hear are anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and substance use disorders.
The treatment for mental illnesses depends on the type of problem. What works for PTSD patients may not work for schizophrenic patients. Therefore, you should consult a mental health professional to discuss the medication and therapy required to treat the problem.
Mental Illness Statistics in 2021
General Mental Illness
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association, nearly 19% of adults experience general mental illness. This is equivalent to almost 47 million Americans. Out of these, 4.55% experienced a severe mental illness and require immediate medical assistance.
Anxiety
People who are frequently restless, feel fatigued, have difficulty sleeping, or experience uncontrolled behavior during tensed situations have anxiety attacks. Many surveys suggest that approximately 31% of adults experience anxiety problems at some point in their lives.
Substance Use Disorders
7.67% of American adults reported having cases with substance use disorders. 5.74% of adults have alcohol use disorders also.
Bipolar Disorders
More than 46 million people in the world have bipolar disorders. In fact, the onset of bipolar disorders usually develop during early adulthood but in some cases can start as early as childhood.
Depression
Depression is a common mental illness characterized by profound sadness, a sense of despair, and persistent low mood. Almost 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and the numbers don’t seem to be going down any time soon.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD develops when you experience a dangerous or shocking event that traumatizes your mind. According to recent statistics, Canada has the highest PTSD rate among 24 countries studied by The British Journal of Psychiatry.
Schizophrenia
The Global Burden of Disease released statistics that showed that more than 20 million people worldwide have schizophrenia.
Suicidal Thoughts
More than 10.7 million people in the world had suicidal thoughts last year. This is the highest-ever recorded number, and mental health experts claim that the number will rise in the future.
If you suffer from any of the mental illnesses mentioned above or want to talk to a mental health professional for your loved one, call us at (208) 552-0855. We are here to discuss your mental illness and provide the appropriate treatment to help you recover quickly.
