The statistics about mental health in this country are sobering. One in five adults experiences a mental illness, with 43.8 million adults experiencing mental illness in any given year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). About 20 percent of children and young people ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder, says the NIH.

There’s little doubt that mental illness is a global problem, as WHO reports that one in eight people around the globe live with some type of mental disorder.

Today we will take a look at some mental health statistics to wrap up 2023. First, what is mental illness? This involves changes to an individual’s behavior, emotional responses, or thinking processes that can lead to distress or problems functioning within the workplace, social situations, or family life, says Very Well Health.

A Look at the Numbers

There are nearly 200 types of mental illnesses, but the most common ones include anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), comprising 30 percent of all mental illness diagnoses in America.

  • Anxiety disorders are the highest reported mental health issue in this country, with 5 million Americans suffering from this illness.

  • One in 4 American adults suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, with one in 10 suffering from a depressive illness, such as bipolar disorder or major depression.

  • 5 million children in the U.S. are diagnosed with anxiety.

  • 20 percent of teens suffer from depression before reaching adulthood.

  • Female teens develop depression twice as often as male teens.

  • Mental illness comprises 13 percent of the world’s disease burden.

  • More than 40 percent of veterans struggle with their mental health or with substance abuse.

  • 10 percent of veterans in the U.S. report elevated anxiety levels.

  • The states with the highest percentages of adults with mental illness as well as thoughts of suicide include Kansas, Arizona, and Oregon.

A Global Affliction

  • 322 million people worldwide live with depression.

  • Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a top contributor to the global burden of disease.

  • 800 million people suffer from mental health disorders worldwide.

  • 50 percent of the global population will develop at least one disorder by age 75.

  • 1 in 100 (2.4 million) American adults live with schizophrenia.

  • 2 million adults have co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders.

  • Serious mental illness results in $193.2 billion in lost earnings in America every year.

  • 21 percent of adults experience at least one mental illness, which translates to about 50 million people.

  • 55 percent of adults who have a mental illness have not received treatment.

  • 44 percent of adults suffer from severe mental illness.

  • More than 12 million adults (4.8 percent) report having serious thoughts of suicide – a figure that more than doubles with adults who identify as two or more races.

Men vs. Women

  • Females are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with anxiety.

  • One in five women have a mental health disorder, compared with one in eight men.

  • About 26 percent of young women between the ages of 16 and 24 years old say they have experienced a common mental health problem in any given week, compared with 17 percent of adult women.

  • Women are more likely to have depression than men.

The three most common mental health disorders for females are:

  • Depression
  • Specific phobia (disabling anxiety that interferes with daily life)
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The three most common mental health disorders for men are:

  • Alcohol abuse

  • Depression

  • Specific phobia

Teens

  • 20 percent of teens suffer from depression before reaching adulthood.

  • Mental health problems typically begin by age 14, with most cases going undetected and untreated.

  • Only 30 percent of teens with depression are getting treatment for it.

  • A teen dies from suicide every 100 minutes; this is the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24.

  • Female teens develop depression twice as often as male teens.

  • Acne increases the risk for teen depression.

  • Nearly 13 percent of teens in the U.S. have at least one episode of major depression.

  • 36 percent of young girls say they are extremely anxious on a daily basis.

  • Teen depression increased 59 percent since 2007.

  • Teens who suffer from depression also have a 30 percent chance of having a drug problem later on in life.

Protect Your Mental Health: Book a Therapy Session With Us Today

We take mental health and its far-reaching effects very seriously here at Growing Together Preventive & Psychological Services. We welcome you to book your free consultation now for a therapy session with one of our licensed therapists, as we offer family therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and individual therapy.