Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. Across the country, many people just like you work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love and inspire every day.

• 22.8% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2021 (57.8 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults.
• 5.5% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2021 (14.1 million people). This represents 1 in 20 adults.
• 16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people)
• 7.6% of U.S. adults experienced a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness in 2021 (19.4 million people)

• Annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by demographic group:
  • Non-Hispanic Asian: 16.4%
  • Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 18.1% 
  • Non-Hispanic Black or African American: 21.4%
  • Hispanic or Latino: 20.7%
  • Non-Hispanic White: 23.9%
  • Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native: 26.6%
  • Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 34.9%
  • Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 50.2%

• Annual prevalence among U.S. adults, by condition:
  • Schizophrenia: <1%
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 1.2%
  • Borderline Personality Disorder: 1.4%
  • Bipolar Disorder: 2.8%
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: 3.6%
  • Major Depressive Episode: 8.3%
  • Anxiety Disorders: 19.1%

Mental Health Care Matters

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• 47.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021
• 65.4% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2021
• 50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016
• The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years
• Annual treatment rates among U.S. adults with any mental illness, by demographic group:
  • Non-Hispanic Asian: 25.4%
  • Hispanic or Latino: 36.1%
  • Non-Hispanic Black or African American: 39.4%
  • Non-Hispanic White: 52.4%
  • Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 52.2%
  • Male: 40%
  • Female: 51.7%
  • Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 55.6%
• 10.6% of U.S. adults with mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2021
• 11.9% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2021
• 160 million people live in a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area

The Ripple Effect Of Mental Illness

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Having a mental illness can make it challenging to live everyday life and maintain recovery. Beyond the individual, these challenges ripple out through our families, our communities, and our world.

PERSON

• People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. People with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions.
• 33.5% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2021 (19.4 million individuals)
• The rate of unemployment is higher among U.S. adults who have mental illness (7.4%) compared to those who do not (4.6%)
• High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers
• Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns are 3x more likely to repeat a grade.

FAMILY

• At least 8.4 million people in the U.S. provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue
• Caregivers of adults with mental or emotional health issues spend an average of 32 hours per week providing unpaid care

COMMUNITY

• 21.1% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. have a serious mental health condition
• Among people in the U.S. under age 18, depressive disorders are the most common cause of hospitalization (after excluding hospitalization relating to pregnancy and birth)
• Among people in the U.S. aged 18-44, psychosis spectrum and mood disorders account for nearly 600,000 hospitalizations each year
• 19.7% of U.S. Veterans experienced a mental illness in 2020 (3.9 million people)
• 9.6% of Active Component service members in the U.S. military experienced a mental health or substance use condition in 2021
• Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year

WORLD

• Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year
• Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide

Common Warning Signs Of Mental Illness

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Diagnosing mental illness isn’t a straightforward science. We can’t test for it the same way we can test blood sugar levels for diabetes. Each condition has its own set of unique symptoms, though symptoms often overlap.

It’s Okay To Talk About Suicide