These numbers show that mental illness is not going to go away just because we ignore it. We have to take action because many are challenged with this dreadful disease.
Mental Illness Statistics
- Estimates show that mental illness account for up to 14% of the global burden of disease with approximately 450 million people worldwide having some kind of a mental disorder (WHO)
- 1 in 4 people in the United Kingdom are challenged with mental illness.
- 1 in 5 people in Australia are challenged with mental illness
- 6 to 7% in India suffers from mental disorders. About 1% suffer from severe mental disorders (The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India)
- 5% of the population in Africa suffers from mental illnesses. This is expected to rise to 15% by the year 2030 (WHO)
- 1 in 4 patients that seek medical help in Kenya suffer from mental illness
- 16.5% of the adult population in South Africa suffers from mental illness, with 1% suffering from a severe life debilitating mental disease (Mental Health and Poverty research Program)
- 1 in 5 people in America experienced a mental disorder in the USA in 2011
Mental Illness and the Sexes
- Women are more likely to be treated for mental illness than men
- Men are more vulnerable to death by suicide than women. Men account for 75%of all suicides in the UK
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Statistics
- Schizophrenia affects more than 21 million people worldwide (WHO)
- One in two people living with schizophrenia does not receive care for the condition (WHO)
Depression Statistics
- Depression affects 1 in 5 older people ( http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk)
- Depression is the 2nd biggest cause of disability in the world (Dr Ferrari, University of Queensland of Population Health)
- By 2020 depression is estimated to be the second biggest ailment in the world after heart disease (WHO)
- After 50 years of economic growth in the UK, people are no happier (Laynard, Happiness publication)
Self Harm Statistics
- The UK has one of the highest rates of self-harm in Europe, at 400 per 100,000 population. (Self-poisoning and self-injury in adults, Clinical Medicine, 2002)
- A fifth of 15-year-olds in England say they self-harmed over the past year (WHO)
Suicide Statistics
- Worldwide, 800,00 people die by suicide every year
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America ( http://www.mentalhealth.gov)
- Half of suicide incidents are aged between 15 and 44
- South Korea is notorious for having one of the world’s highest suicide rates (New America Media)
Mental Illness in Children Statistics
- 1 in 10 children between the ages of one and 15 are challenged with a mental health disorder. (The Office for National Statistics, Great Britain, 2005)
- About half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14 (WHO)
- 57% of kids in UK always have the phone by their bed. 44% feel uncomfortable if they do not have a phone signal. Average time spent per day on mobiles by 7 to 16-year-olds is 3 hours and 20 minutes. Most kids have their own phone by 7 years old. (Childwise)
Debt and Mental Illness
- MIND, a mental health charity in the UK launched a “Still in The Red” study in 2012. The study showed that 1 in 4 people with a mental health problem were in need of debt advice.
Bullying and Mental Illness
- Bullies and those they bully are said to be at risk of mental illness e.g. anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicide when they become adults (National Institute of Mental Health – NIMH).
- At least 16 children in the UK kill themselves each year because of bullying at school. (These estimates from the book: Bullycide: death at playtime by Neil Marr and Tim Field).
Mental Illness and Society Statistics
- In the UK, 40% of benefit claims are from mental illness (OECD, Mental health and work, UK)
- Unemployed people are 4 times likely to experience mental illness including depression than the employed (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2009)
- War and disasters have a large impact on mental health. Rates of mental disorder tend to double after emergencies. (WHO)
Mental Illness and Stigma Statistics
- 1 in 4 of people felt depression was a sign of personal weakness and would not employ a person with depression (Australian study)
- 9 out of 10 (87%) in a study reported they experienced stigma and discrimination of mental illness (Time to Change)
- 63% of references to mental health in TV soaps and drama were “pejorative, flippant or unsympathetic” terms included: “crackpot”, “a sad little psycho”, “basket case” , “where did you get her from?”, “Care in the Community?” and “he was looney tunes” (Quoted from Time to Change website)
- Stigma and discrimination against patients and families prevent people from seeking mental health care (WHO)
Defying the Statistics of Mental Illness
- In spite of all the statistics above, one man Chuck, defied mental illness and decided to tell the world that others can beat the disease too. It does not matter what the figures are, you can defy the odds!