May is Mental Health Awareness Month

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34

 

  • People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. People with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions.
  • 32.1% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2020 (17 million individuals)
  • The rate of unemployment is higher among U.S. adults who have mental illness (6.4%) compared to those who do not (5.1%)
  • High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers
  • Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns are 3x more likely to repeat a grade.
  • At least 8.4 million people in the U.S. provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue
  • Caregivers of adults with mental or emotional health issues spend an average of 32 hours per week providing unpaid care
  • Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year
  • Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide
  • About 2 million times each year, people with serious mental illness are booked into jails

Resources:

Connecticut Free Resources to Support Mental Health

Health and Human Services Fact Sheet

CDC Suicide Prevention

National Alliance on Mental Health

National Institute of Mental Health

The Trevor Project: Supporting LGBTQ, Transgender and Non-Binary Youth