Researchers of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported on Nov 18 that in 2009, 45 million, or 20 percent, of adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. suffered from some mental disorder or mental illness in the past year. Among those with mental illness, 11 million or 4.8 percent had a serious mental illness.
The report determined that women were more likely than men to suffer mental illness, 23.8 percent versus 15.6 percent – those suffering from serious mental illness is estimated at 6.4 versus 3.2 percent of women and men, respectively.
Also in 2009, an estimated 8.4 million adults or 3.7 percent aged 18 or older had serious thoughts of suicide the previous year. Of those who had thought about committing suicide, 2.2 million or 1 percent had a plan and 1 million or 0.5 percent had attempted suicide in the past year.
Among the 45 million suffering from some form of mental illness, nearly 20 percent or 8.9 million adults had substance dependence or substance abuse issues. 25.7 percent had substance dependence or substance abuse in the prior year, compared with 6.5 percent of adults who did not have mental illness.
Of the same 45 million adults, 17.1 million or 37.9 received mental health care services during the prior 12 months - of the 11 million adults with serious mental illness, 6.6 million or 60.2 percent received care. In 2009, 13.3 percent or 30.2 million adults received mental health services during the past 12 months.
Of the 2.8 million adults aged 18 or older with both substance dependence or abuse in the past year, 2.4 percent received treatment at a specialty facility.
In 2009, 2.0 million youths aged 12 to 17 suffered a major depressive episode during the past year. Among those who experienced major depression, 35.7 percent used illicit drugs, compared to 18.0 percent of those who did not have major depression in the past year.
12th International Mental Health Conference 2011 Radisson Resort, Gold Coast
Personality Disorders: Out of the Darkness
Wednesday 24th August – Friday 26th August 2011.
