1 In 5 U.S. Adults Suffers Mental Illness
Nearly 46 million American adults have had a mental illness in the past year, a new government report shows. Almost 30% of those aged 18 to 25 experienced a mental illness, twice as many as those aged 50 and older at just over 14%. And more women than men suffered a mental illness in the last year, 23% vs. nearly 17%, according to the report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. According to the report, some 11.4 million adults suffered from serious mental illness in the past year, which is defined as an illness that affected a person’s ability to function normally. Mental illness doesn’t just affect people, but also takes an economic toll – about $300 billion in 2002, the researchers said. Mental illness also accounts for more disability in developed countries than any other illness, including cancer and heart disease, according to the World Health Organization.
Nearly 46 million American adults have had a mental illness in the past year, a new government report shows. Almost 30% of those aged 18 to 25 experienced a mental illness, twice as many as those aged 50 and older at just over 14%. And more women than men suffered a mental illness in the last year, 23% vs. nearly 17%, according to the report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. According to the report, some 11.4 million adults suffered from serious mental illness in the past year, which is defined as an illness that affected a person’s ability to function normally. Mental illness doesn’t just affect people, but also takes an economic toll – about $300 billion in 2002, the researchers said. Mental illness also accounts for more disability in developed countries than any other illness, including cancer and heart disease, according to the World Health Organization.
