70+ Mental Health Disorder Statistics & Facts

Top 10 Most Interesting Mental Health Disorder Statistics

• Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States (46.6 million) experience a mental illness in any given year. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
• Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. (World Health Organization)
• 70% of youth in juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition and at least 20% live with a serious mental illness. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• About 1 in 6 (16.5%) youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year in the United States. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects about 7.7 million American adults, or 3.5% of the adult population. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, with anorexia nervosa having a mortality rate 12 times higher than that of all causes of death for females 15-24 years old. (National Eating Disorders Association)
• Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the world's population, or approximately 20 million people worldwide. (World Health Organization)
• Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.8% of adults in the United States, or about 5.7 million people. (National Institute of Mental Health)

How Many People Have Mental Health Issues?

• Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States (46.6 million) experience a mental illness in any given year. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
• Depression affects an estimated 264 million people worldwide, or about 4.4% of the global population. (World Health Organization)
• Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.8% of adults in the United States, or about 5.7 million people. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the world's population, or approximately 20 million people worldwide. (World Health Organization)

Global Mental Health Statistics

• Depression affects an estimated 264 million people worldwide, or about 4.4% of the global population. (World Health Organization)
• Anxiety disorders affect an estimated 284 million people worldwide, or about 3.8% of the global population. (World Health Organization)
• Substance abuse disorders affect an estimated 275 million people worldwide, or about 3.7% of the global population. (World Health Organization)
• Bipolar disorder affects an estimated 60 million people worldwide, or about 0.85% of the global population. (World Health Organization)
• Schizophrenia affects an estimated 20 million people worldwide, or about 0.28% of the global population. (World Health Organization)

Types of Mental Illnesses and Their Prevalence

• Anxiety disorders: 18.1% of adults (40 million people)
• Depressive disorders: 7.6% of adults (17 million people)
• Bipolar disorder: 2.8% of adults (5.7 million people)
• Schizophrenia: 1.1% of adults (2.8 million people)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): 1.2% of adults (2.5 million people)
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 3.6% of U.S. adults every year
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): 4.4% of U.S. adults every year
• Eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa has a lifetime prevalence rate of 0.9%, bulimia nervosa has a lifetime prevalence rate of 1.5%, and binge-eating disorder has a lifetime prevalence rate of 3.5%.

U.S. Mental Health Statistics

• Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States (46.6 million) experience a mental illness in any given year. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
• Depression affects an estimated 17.3 million adults in the United States, or about 7% of the U.S. population over age 18. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
• Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.8% of adults in the United States, or about 5.7 million people. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of the adult population in the United States, or about 2.4 million people. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• Eating disorders affect an estimated 20 million women and 10 million men at some point in their lives in the United States. (National Eating Disorders Association)
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects about 8 million American adults, or roughly 3.5% of the adult population. (National Center for PTSD)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children and adolescents, with an estimated prevalence rate between 5 to10%. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Mental Health Treatment Statistics

• Only 44% of adults with diagnosable mental illnesses receive treatment. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• In 2019, about 7.8 million adults received treatment for mental health issues through Medicare. (Kaiser Family Foundation)
• The average delay between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• About 50% of individuals who experience a mental illness will also experience a substance use disorder at some point in their lifetime. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in treating a range of mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, with success rates ranging from 50% to 75%. (American Psychological Association)
• Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medication for mental health disorders, with approximately one in six Americans taking them. (JAMA Internal Medicine)
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective treatment option for severe depression and other psychiatric disorders, with success rates as high as 80%. (American Psychiatric Association)

Mental Illness Rates By Country

• In the United States, approximately 1 in 5 adults (18.5%) experience a mental illness in any given year. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Canada has a similar rate of mental illness, with an estimated 20% of Canadians experiencing a mental health disorder each year. (Canadian Mental Health Association)
• In the United Kingdom, approximately 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year. (Mind UK)
• Australia has a higher prevalence of mental illness, with an estimated 45% of Australians experiencing a mental health condition at some point in their lifetime. (Beyond Blue)
• India has a relatively low rate of mental illness compared to other countries, with an estimated 6-7% of the population experiencing a common mental disorder such as depression or anxiety. (World Health Organization)
• China also has a lower prevalence of mental illness, with an estimated 17% of the population experiencing some form of psychological distress. (World Health Organization)

Mental Illness Rates By Age

• Children aged 8-15 with a major depressive episode had increased from 8.4% to 12.5% between 2011 and 2016. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
• The prevalence of anxiety disorders among children aged 6-17 has increased from 5.5% in 2003 to 7.1% in 2016. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
• Young adults aged 18-25 have the highest prevalence of any mental illness compared to adults aged 26-49 or those over the age of 50 in the United States, at a rate of 25.8%. (National Institute of Mental Health)

Mental Illness Rates By Gender

• Women are almost twice as likely as men to experience depression, with an estimated 10-20% of women experiencing depression during their lifetime compared to 5-10% of men. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Women are also more likely to experience anxiety disorders than men, with a prevalence rate of 23.4% compared to 14.3% in men. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
• Men are more likely than women to die by suicide, with a suicide rate that is about four times higher than that of women. (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
• Men are also more likely to be diagnosed with substance use disorders than women, with a prevalence rate of 11.5% compared to 6.4% in women. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Mental Illness Rates By Ethnicity

• African Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population. (Mental Health America)
• Asian American adults have a lower prevalence of mental illness compared to other ethnic groups in the United States, with an estimated 14.7% experiencing any form of mental illness in the past year. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• With an estimated 9.2% meeting criteria for a substance use disorder in the past year. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health)

FAQs

What is the most common mental illness in the United States?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.

How many people with a mental health disorder receive treatment?

Only 44% of adults with diagnosable mental illnesses receive treatment.

What is the average delay between onset of symptoms and treatment for mental illness?

The average delay between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.

Are men or women more likely to experience depression?

Women are almost twice as likely as men to experience depression, with an estimated 10-20% of women experiencing depression during their lifetime compared to 5-10% of men.

Are there any ethnic groups that are more likely to experience serious mental health problems than others?

African Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population.

Conclusion

Mental health disorders are a serious concern that affect millions of people around the world. It is important to raise awareness about mental health and to promote access to mental health services for those who need them.

By understanding these statistics, we can begin to address the challenges facing individuals with mental health disorders and work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive society.

Sources

• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/mental-health-disorder-statistics
• https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders
• https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
• https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health
• https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
• https://www.brightfuturesny.com/post/mental-health-statistics