The stigma around mental health disorders may be lessening, but far too many people still do not seek the help they need because of shameful feelings. They do not understand that anxiety, depression, problems with focus or memory, and other mental health issues are, in fact, very common, normal occurrences. How normal? More than 50% of the world’s population will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lifetime, according to data from the World Health Organization.

More than 50% of the world’s population will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lifetime.

That figure is greater than the number of Americans who will experience heart disease during their lifetime, yet heart disease is not hidden under a cloak of shame and misunderstanding like mental health disorders are.

Your brain can have problems just like your heart can.  People who have a family history of heart health issues, too much visceral fat, or blood pressure that’s too high will see a doctor and make changes because they don’t want to have a heart attack.  For mental wellness, it’s important to take similar measures to support and protect your brain health.

The cost of failing to do so is great. In addition to causing personal distress, fractured relationships, isolation, and poor quality of life, the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that untreated mental health issues can lead to unnecessary disability, job loss, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide.

HOW COMMON ARE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?

In today’s post-pandemic world with widening political divisions, inflation rising, deep concerns about the future of our planet, greater isolation due to social media and other factors, poor diet, and stressful lifestyles, mental health issues are more common than ever before.

In fact, surprisingly, improving mental health was the top new year’s resolution for 2023. According to a Forbes survey, 45% of respondents made improved mental health one of their top resolutions—above weight loss, improved diet, more exercise, and improved finances—marking a seismic shift in the value placed on mental well-being.

Just three years earlier, mental health was fifth after improved finances, diet, exercise, and weight loss, according to data. What’s more, young people value mental health even more. In the Forbes survey, 51% of Gen Z respondents placed improved mental health at the top of their list.

OVERVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH IN AMERICA

Indeed, Americans are likely prioritizing mental health because so many of us are struggling with it.  Here’s a snapshot of key findings from the 2021 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration survey:

General Mental Illness

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experienced a mental illness in the last year.
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experienced a serious mental illness in the last year. (Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder.)

Depressive Episode

• 1 in 5 adolescents aged 12-17 experienced a depressive episode in the last year.
• More than 20 million adults experienced depressive episodes in the last year.

Suicide

• 3 million adolescents aged 12-17 had serious thoughts of suicide, 1.5 million people made a suicide plan, and 892,000 attempted suicide.
• 3 million adults had serious thoughts of suicide, 3.5 million made a suicide plan, and 1.7 million attempted suicide.
• Additionally, the National Institute of Mental Health lists suicide as the second leading cause of death among kids and young adults ages 10-34.

Substance Abuse

• 3 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year.
• Additional research found that in 2021, there were over 106,600 deaths due to drug overdose in the U.S.—the highest on record, largely driven by substances laced with synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl.

Anxiety and Depression

Additionally, new survey research updated in March 2023 found remarkably high rates of anxiety and depression in adults.

• 3 % of all adults (and 49.9% of young adults aged 18-24) reported experiencing anxiety and depression.

Even though we have more mental health awareness than ever and mental health issues are so prevalent, more than half of people with mental illness don’t get the help they need according to a 2022 report from Mental Health America.  It may be time to transform the way we think about mental health struggles.