Startling Facts About Suicide and Mental Illness

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately. The newest report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) shows the scope of mental health problems in the United States and some startling facts about suicide.  50 percent of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. At least 8.4 million people in the U.S. provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue. Only 43.3 percent of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2018. 50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016. 60% of U.S. counties do not have a single practicing psychiatrist. 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition. 90% of people who die by suicide had shown symptoms of a mental health condition, according to interviews with family, friends and medical professionals (also known as psychological autopsy). Suicide is the #2 cause of death among people aged 10 – 34 in the U.S. Can mental illness and suicidal thoughts really begin at such young ages? Yes. I know people personally who lost loved ones to suicide at ages seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, fifteen, and as older teens and young adults. This is the reality too many families face. Our children and young people can have real problems at a time in life when many changes affect them, making it easy for us to dismiss behavior and mood...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Depression Suicide Source Type: blogs