When most people think of mental illness, they conjure a mental picture of severe disturbance.
They often fail to think, instead, of their parents, their children, their neighbors and friends, but according to new research, those are exactly the people they should be considering.
Half of the people living in the United States will develop some form of mental illness in the course of their lives, according to a new study conducted by the University of Michigan.
That means that, among other titles, our nation now carries the banner of world leader in per-capita mental illness.
Results of the landmark $20 million study, reported in this month’s issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, were drawn from face-to-face interviews conducted with 9,282 randomly selected people in 34 states.
They were published alongside new research that suggests Americans are waiting far too long to get help for such problems.
Patients often wait years, even decades, before seeking treatment. Just two out of every five people suffering from a mental illness got help in the last 12 months, according to the findings of Harvard researcher Phillip Wang.
Harvard studies also found that treatment needs were most unmet in youth populations, despite the fact that half of all those who will be diagnosed with a mental disorder in their lifetimes will show signs of the disease by age 14. Three-quarters of all sufferers show signs by age 24.
“(Mental illness) is the most prevalent chronic condition in youth,” said Ronald C. Kessler, author of two of the Harvard Medical School studies, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. He later added that those with low incomes and those without insurance are most likely to have their needs go unmet, as are rural residents, minorities and the elderly.
Youth sufferers are the most frequent victims of mental illness, said Kessler, because lack of early treatment in children and teens can lead to more debilitating problems later in life, including severe depression and a greater propensity toward serious mental health issues.
His findings are in line with those of a commission appointed by President Bush, which recommended last year that public schools screen students for mental issues.
In all, 26 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental disorder this year alone. The figure includes temporary mental disorders, such as mild depression, but just one in three of those diagnosed will get adequate treatment, Kessler found.
More than 30 percent of those will turn to non-professional sources like Internet support groups and spiritual advisers instead.
Some will never seek treatment, for reasons ranging from inattention to warning signs to social stigma or inadequate insurance coverage.
If you or someone you love suffers from a form of mental illness, there is no reason to hide. Help is available, many times at low or no cost to those in qualifying financial situations.
Many psychologists also offer adjustable rates for those who cannot afford full fees.
