As of 2018, it is estimated that 970 million people worldwide live with a substance abuse or mental health disorder. This totals to 13% of the worldwide population, but almost two thirds of that population never seek treatment. It is most likely that that number has increased amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. According to SingleCare, after their national survey on mental health and coronavirus, they found that the pandemic has affected the mental health of 59% of people within the United States.
Common Mental Health Conditions Include:
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
• Anxiety: Intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and feeling tired may occur.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
• Psychosis disorders: A mental disorder characterized by a disconnection from reality.
• Depression: Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
• Schizophrenia: A disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.
• Substance use disorder: Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.
• Dissociation and Dissociative disorders: Disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions, and identity.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions and your ability to function in important areas of life. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
• Bipolar disorder: A disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
• Paranoia: An unrealistic distrust of others or a feeling of being persecuted. Extreme degrees may be a sign of mental illness.
– Descriptions sourced from Mayo Clinic
Mental Health Statistics in the United States:
• More than a quarter (26.3%) of adults aged 18 to 25 years old had any mental illness in 2018.
• Nearly 8% of adults aged 18 to 25 years old had a serious mental illness in 2018.
• Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the U.S. (18.1% of the population) making them the most common mental illness. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
• The rate of individuals aged 18 to 25 years old that reported symptoms consistent with major depression increased 63% from 2009 to 2017. (American Psychological Association, 2019)
– Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
If you are experiencing the symptoms of a mental illness or experience suicidal thoughts, help is available to you. Your mind matters.
Mental Health Resources:
• Crisis text line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor
• National Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255
• Behavioral health treatment services locator
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
• Substance use disorder treatment locator
• The Best Online Therapy Platforms Of 2022
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