Mental illnesses are conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Such conditions may be occasional or long-lasting and affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day.
Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States.
* More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.
* 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.
* 1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as:
* Early adverse life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse (for example, child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.)
* Experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical condition, such as cancer or diabetes.
* Biological factors, such as genes or chemical imbalances in the brain
* Use of alcohol or recreational drugs
* Having few friends
* Having feeling of loneliness or isolation
Please reach out for help! or
Give a hand if you know someone who needs help! Thank you!
