By Andrew Lisa 

Defined by the American Psychiatric Association as “health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior,” mental illness affects millions of Americans, often disrupting their social lives, personal relationships and school or career performance.

 Although many find relief through professional treatment, many, many more never do—but not because treatment is not possible. It is in most cases, but a variety of factors prevent all too many sufferers from getting the help they need or even seeking it out in the first place.

According to mental health experts, roughly one in four adults are grappling with a mental health condition. (Credit: Unsplash / Studio KVR)

Instances of mental illness and its most negative outcomes—most notably suicide—were already on the rise for the past two decades before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. But the coronavirus crisis—and the stress and uncertainty that came with it— led to dramatic spikes in the number of people seeking help with problems involving their mental health and well-being.

America’s mental health crisis is now and has for a long time been aggravated by widespread misinformation and ignorance about mental illness and the people who struggle with it. The nature of mental illness is widely misunderstood, as are its causes, consequences and potential treatments and outcomes. 

Those who suffer from mental illness battle not only the condition itself, but public perceptions and attitudes that are commonly unhelpful, often harmful and usually rooted in misinformation. Read below to understand key facts about mental health by using data and expert information from sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) Mental Health America (MHA), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

According to the American Psychological Association, “anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” The National Institute of Mental Health reports that “anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or fear.” It is a feeling that doesn’t go away and can be tied to concerns about “health, money, school, work or family.” (Courtesy Photo)
  1. Mental illness affects tens of millions of Americans

According to JHM, “An estimated 26 percent of Americans ages 18 and older – about 1 in 4 adults – suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” Data shows that roughly 9.5 percent of all Americans over the age of 18 are struggling with a “major depressive illness,” such as “major depression, bipolar disorder, or dysthymia” on an annual basis. 

  1. Mental illness usually begins at a young age

About 20 percent of children have suffered from what the CDC classifies as a “seriously debilitating mental disorder,” most commonly an anxiety, behavior or mood disorder. Three out of four cases of chronic mental illness begin by age 24 and half begin by age 14.

  1. Many factors can contribute to mental illness

Mental illness can be caused by genetics, life experiences, environmental factors, stress and trauma, individual biochemistry, drug and alcohol use, traumatic brain injury, or any combination of them all, according to MHA. In many cases, it’s not possible to trace the exact source of an individual’s condition.

  1. Know the warning signs

Depending on the condition and the individual, mental illness may or may not include red-flag symptoms like a decline in hygiene, significant weight loss or gain, a sudden increase in drug use or reckless behavior, or a departure from reality in the form of paranoia, delusions, or hallucinations. Symptoms of mental illness are complex and can vary widely depending on a variety of factors, but extended periods of sadness or lethargy are common symptoms, according to NAMI, as are radical changes in sleeping habits, personality or behavior. A sudden increase in episodes of overwhelming panic or fear could be a warning sign, as could thoughts of self-harm, extreme changes in sex drive and a withdrawal from friends and social activities.

  1. There are many other kinds of mental illness

Mental illness can take many forms beyond anxiety disorders and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. Among the most common are eating disorders, personality disorders, behavioral disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse disorders, and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.

  1. Many with mental health challenges wage multifront battles

People who struggle with serious mental illness are at a greater risk for cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, according to the NAMI. Roughly one in five struggle with substance abuse at the same time as mental illness.

  1. They don’t struggle alone

NAMI estimates that at least 8.4 million Americans serve as caregivers for adults with mental or emotional illness. On average, they spend 32 unpaid hours per week providing care.

  1. Too many people go without treatment

According to MHA, 56 percent of adults and 61.5 percent of youths with mental illness do not receive any treatment. Contrary to a common stereotype, however, it’s often not for lack of trying. Millions of Americans of all ages report giving up after repeated attempts to get help in vain.

  1. Only a tiny percentage are violent or unpredictable

One of the biggest myths surrounding people with mental illness is that they’re prone to fits of violence and other unpredictable outbursts. The truth, according to MentalHealth.gov, is that the overwhelming majority are no more likely to be violent than the general population. Just 3 -5 percent of violent crimes are committed by people with mental illness.

  1. Help is available and accessible

Treatment does not have to be expensive or overwhelming and anyone suffering from mental illness, or who knows someone who is, has resources at their disposal. The CDC maintains a list of crisis hotlines, helpful links for those seeking treatment, links to mental health campaigns and advocacy groups, and resources that are specific to certain demographics, like veterans or abuse survivors. Organizations such as the NIH, NAMI and many others offer similar information, and groups like MHA offer free mental health screenings, which can help sufferers determine what kind of mental illness they likely have and which steps they should take next.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

This article was originally published by Stacker Media.