some stats regarding mental health
It’s a good thing that more and more people are talking about anxiety, depression, stress and other mental health conditions, that decades ago, were considered taboo subjects. In previous times, people feared that discussing these disorders may make them appear flawed, odd or weak, and wanted to dodge other people’s judgments, so they kept it to themselves. However, today many people are choosing the path of honesty and vulnerability and openly talking about their mental health and the issues that they’re experiencing.
If you’re struggling with a mental condition and if no one in your immediate social circle has experienced or is going through the same problem, at least to your knowledge, it’s natural to feel sad and alone. You might become self-conscious and think that something is wrong with you, but you have to avoid this toxic trap.
If you are experiencing these negative thoughts recurrently remember that mental conditions like yours are fairly common, and fortunately, most of them are treatable.
I recently came across some illuminating statistics with regard to mental health in the US in an article on Success.com:
1 in 5: This is the number of Americans who experience a mental health problem each year.
9.8 million: This is the number of American adults who have a serious mental health disorder. This translates to roughly one in 25 adults.
6.9%: This is the number of adults with major depression in the U.S.
18.1%: This is the number of adults with anxiety disorders in the U.S.
No. 1: Across the world, depression is the leading cause of disability.
2 to 1: Women are twice as likely to experience major depression as men.
The following are results from the annual Stress in America survey conducted by the APA:
74%: The number of adults who said they had a physical or emotional symptom due to stress in the previous month.
91%: The number of Gen Zers (ages 15 to 21) who said they had a physical or emotional symptom due to stress in the previous month.
1 in 5: The number of adults who don’t feel as though they do enough to manage their stress.
64%: The number of adults who feel stressed by work.
63%: The number of adults who feel stress because of health concerns.
64%: The number of adults who feel stress due to money.
48%: The number of adults who feel stress due to the state of the economy.
Whether you live in the US or not, the important message that you can take from these figures is that having a mental health condition is not uncommon. So don’t beat yourself up or think lowly of yourself for having one believing that you’re an oddball in the swarm of sane people around you.
You’re not an exception, any human can develop a mental health condition. The most important thing that you can do for yourself is to address it and get the right treatment for it if required.
Mental health stigma is a thing of the past. Today, that stigma has been removed and many people are seeking treatment for their mental health disorders, especially with the rise of online, remote therapy.
If you feel like you’re getting sucked in the downward negative spiral and are struggling with your mental health, don’t be afraid to seek out professional help. Like I said, it’s the best thing that you can do for yourself and your overall well-being.