Mental Health Awareness Month and Statistics: 2023
Across the United States millions of individuals struggle—in many cases silently— through mental health issues. Mental health issues can result in a cascade of struggles within other sectors of an individual’s life if left untreated. As mental health becomes steadily destigmatized, hope for a more informed and supportive future is present. However, in order to continue destigmatizing mental health, more information regarding this issue and how to solve it must be spread.
In recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month, Vissa Journal has compiled some of the most recent statistics regarding mental health and how to solve it.
Recent Statistics
In 2019-2020, 21% of United States adults were suffering through mental health issues. This equals to around 50 million Americans.
In 2023, 15.35% of United States adults exhibited substance use, yet, 93.5% of them did not receive any treatment.
Millions of American adults experience thoughts of suicide, with the highest percentage being present in multi-racial adults. 4.84% of adults ( 12.1 million individuals ) report serious suicidal ideation and thoughts.
Over 1 in 10 youth are experiencing depression that severely impairs their academic performance and social and familial connections.
16.39% of minors (ages 12-17) report having a at least one major depressive episode in the last year.
54.7% (28 million individuals) of American adults with mental health disorders do not receive treatment or aid.
28.2% of adults struggling through mental health disorders reported they were unable to receive the necessary treatment.
10.8% (5.5 million individuals) of adults enduring mental illness are uninsured. Hispanic adults were less likely to have covered health insurance.
22.87% of adults reported experiencing 14 or more mentally unhealthy days each month. However, these adults were unable to access medical treatment due to financial costs.
Only 28% of youth with severe depression receive some consistent treatment. ( estimated 7-25 yearly visits).
57.3% of youth with serve depression do not receive any treatment.
In 2021, suicide was the 4th leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds.
Upon analyzing and viewing these statistics, it can be concluded that mental health is still an immense struggle for millions of Americans as an insufficient amount of individuals receive treatment, especially within marginalized demographics.
Government Intervention
In order to address the current mental health crisis within the United States, the Biden administration has invested billions of dollars into American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services helped states establish Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics—providing behavioral healthcare 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week (as the department displays their belief that mental health is not a struggle restricted to typical business hours).
Efforts from the Department of Health and Human Service in the Past Year
Released Resource on Improving Mental Health in the Workplace
In August of 2022, SAMHSA released a new publication— “Advisory: Expanding Implementation of Mental Health Awareness Training in the Workplace.” The Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) advisory promotes implementation of MHATs by targeting the workplace through a grander and broader scope— including places in the community that are frequently visited in addition to tranditional workplace settings.
Launched Center to Improve Support for People who have both Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Disabilities.
In September of 2022, ACL began launching centers to increase the support for individuals struggling through intellectual ad developmental disabilities and mental health disabilities. It is estimated that this cooperative agreement will total to around $3.25 million over five years. Yet, it will create a resource center and provide national technical assistance to support individuals struggling through these mental health issues in order to promote individual and community well-being .
Awarded Estimated $185 Million to Support Youth Mental Health and Help the Health Care Workforce Meet Families’ Health Needs.
$73.5 million for Project Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education in order to aid the development of school-based mental health programs.
$57.7 million in Mental Health Awareness Training grants to prepare and train educational personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.
$14.9 million was provided for School Based Trauma-Informed Support Services and Mental Health Care for Children and Youth to increase the access and availability students have regarding relevant trauma support services and mental health care.
The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Data Summary & Trends Report is Released.
In February 2023, the CDC released the Youth Risk Behavior Data & Trends Report, providing surveillance data from 2021 as well as 10-years of trend research from 2011 to 2021 regarding behaviors and experiences among highschool students in the United States related to health and well-being. The data shows that there were correlations between certain behaviors and experiences and worsening mental health within the youth, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The data displays that a school environment’s effect on mental health is impacted by how teachers manage their classes, the availability of programs to support positive youth development, and presence of policies that support LGBTQ+ students— as the presence of the latter has shown to improve and support youth mental health.
As it can be seen, strides are being taken to improving the support system for mental health treatment and guidance among individuals across age groups. Yet, there is still an immense amount of work to be done in order to truly provide support for all individuals and decrease the number of individuals suffering through these issues.
Strategies to keep Support your Personal Mental Health
The following are strategies recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health
Seek Professional Help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted for 2 weeks or longer periods of time. Symptoms include:
Difficulty sleeping
Extreme appetite changes that may result in unwanted or unintentional weight changes.
Struggles with motivation
Difficulty concentrating
Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
Inability to preform usual daily functions and responsibilities
Priortize Sleep.
Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule that includes the sufficient amount of hours to gain true rest, can help sustain mental well-being.
Get a Regular Amount of Excercise
Small amounts of exercise, such a a 30 minute walk, can improve your health and emotional state.
Stay Connected
Keeping personal connections with family and friends can truly help to build a support system within an individual’s life and improve their emotional and mental health.
Help and Guidance in a Crisis
Mental Healthline: 844-737-5576
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Suicide Hotline: Call 988
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis or decline in mental health please do not hesitate to reach out for help.
Additional Sources:
National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/fact-sheet-celebrating-mental-health-awareness-month-2023.html
Forbes Health: https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/mental-health-statistics/
Next Step Solutions: https://www.nssbehavioralhealth.com/
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health#:~:text=Adolescence%20is%20a%20unique%20and,vulnerable%20to%20mental%20health%20problems.
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration DRAFT Strategic Plan: https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/draft-strategic-plan-2023.pdf
U.S Department of Health and Human Services: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/fact-sheet-celebrating-mental-health-awareness-month-2023.html