One in Five US Adults Afflicted with Mental Illness

Posted on Feb. 2, 2012, 6 a.m. in Demographics | Mental Health |

Mental illness among adults aged 18 or older is defined as having had a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder (excluding developmental and substance use disorders) in the past year, based on criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals that 45.9 million American adults ages 18 and older, or 20% of this age group, experienced mental illness in the past year. The rate of mental illness was more than twice as high among those aged 18 to 25 (29.%) than among those aged 50 and older (14.3%). Adult women were also more likely than men to have experienced mental illness in the past year (23% versus 16.8%).  The report also shows that in 2010, 11.4 million adults (5% of the adult population) suffered from serious mental illness – a condition that resulted in serious functional impairment, which substantially interfered with or limited one or more major life activities.

Continue reading…

“2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).”  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA), 2011.

  

Health Headlines MORE »

Lifting less weight more times is just as effective at building muscle as training with heavy weights.
People with age-related macular degeneration may be at up to 50% increased risk for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
Carvacrol, a compound found in oregano, is shown to induce prostate cancer cell death.
People who live in city centers are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery calcification, a common precursor to heart disease.
The high acidity levels in sports and energy drinks erode tooth enamel.
Levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) fell by 26% among subjects who received supplementation with resveratrol-rich grape extract for one year.
Rich in antioxidants, blueberries and strawberries may delay memory decline in older women by 2.5 years.
Teens who consumed 35 grams of protein at breakfast reported greater feelings of fullness and showed improved hormone responses.
Eating pistachios may positively impact bacterial profile of the digestive tract.

ANTI-AGING TIP OF THE DAY

275. Sustainable Environment Supports Human Health
What’s good for the planet is good for people. Researchers from Arizona State University (Arizona, USA) completed a meta-analysis of 120 peer-reviewed publications on the health effects of plastics and plasticizers in lab animals and humans. This study reiterates the fact that the effects to the environment from plastic waste are acute. In the U.S., the average person produces a half-pound of plastic waste every day, and as such, adverse effects to human health are a potential area for grave concern...