Mental illness hits 50m adults in America
Source: Agencies |
January 20, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
One in five adults in the United States - nearly 50 million people - suffered from mental illness in the past year, with women and young adults suffering disproportionately, a government report released yesterday found.
The survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found women were more likely than men - 23 percent to 16.8 percent - to have experienced mental illness, while the rate among people aged 18 to 25 was twice that of those aged 50 and older.
The administration defined mental illness among adults as diagnosable mental, behavioral or emotional disorders, excluding developmental disorders and substance use.
The survey also found that 5 percent of American adults, or 11.4 million people, had suffered a serious mental illness in the past year.
The report revealed that 8.7 million American adults had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, with 2.5 million making suicide plans and 1.1 million attempting to take their own lives.
Americans suffering mental illnesses were three times as likely to have developed substance dependence or substance abuse disorders than adults who had not experienced mental illness.
Among youths aged 12 to 17, 8 percent, 1.9 million, experienced a major depressive episode in the past year.
The administration surveyed 67,500 people.
The survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found women were more likely than men - 23 percent to 16.8 percent - to have experienced mental illness, while the rate among people aged 18 to 25 was twice that of those aged 50 and older.
The administration defined mental illness among adults as diagnosable mental, behavioral or emotional disorders, excluding developmental disorders and substance use.
The survey also found that 5 percent of American adults, or 11.4 million people, had suffered a serious mental illness in the past year.
The report revealed that 8.7 million American adults had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, with 2.5 million making suicide plans and 1.1 million attempting to take their own lives.
Americans suffering mental illnesses were three times as likely to have developed substance dependence or substance abuse disorders than adults who had not experienced mental illness.
Among youths aged 12 to 17, 8 percent, 1.9 million, experienced a major depressive episode in the past year.
The administration surveyed 67,500 people.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
