Mental Illness Awareness Week, Oct. 5-11, 2014

In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week. Coinciding with awareness week is the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding (October 7, 2014). These mental health awareness efforts are not possible without organizations such as The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

In the spirit of mental health awareness week, consider visiting NAMI’s website, which posts some startling estimated statistics below:

– 1 in 4 adults experience mental illness in a given year.

– 1 in 17 adults live with a serious mental illness.

– 20% of youth ages 13 to 18 experience severe mental disorders in a given year.

– 9.2 million adults have co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders.

– 26% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with serious mental illness.

– 20% of state prisoners have “a recent history” of a mental health condition.

– 70% of youth in juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition and at least 20% live with a severe mental illness.

The World Health Organization has determined that mental disorders are among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.

What does this mean in our country?

– Serious mental illness costs Americans $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.

– Serious mental illness increases the risk of having chronic medical conditions.

– Adults living with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than others, largely due to treatable medical conditions.

– Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. (more common than homicide) and the third leading cause of death for ages 15 to 24 years.

– More than 90% of those who die by suicide had one or more mental disorders.

– Although military members comprise less than 1% of the U.S. population, veterans represent 20% of suicides nationally. Each day, about 22 veterans die from suicide.

Educating yourself about your loved one’s illness is really the foundation of support. Research also has shown that education works. Experts say if you provide families with education and involve them in the therapeutic process that patients experience a reduction in symptoms, hospitalization days and relapse.

NAMI and other similarly situated organizations are available for those seeking additional information and/or want to help.

Thank you.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »