Ending The Stigma - Editorial
Today, May 31, marks the last day of Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health can be a difficult topic, but it is one of critical importance—which is why each year the month of May serves as a time for us to pause, to take stock of our own well-being, to check in on our loved ones and to reflect on the real-life impacts associated with mental health.
We’ve all heard the saying—”it’s okay to not be okay”—but it can be easier said than done, especially when a certain degree of stigma still surrounds discussing and raising awareness for mental health disorders.
Our society has come a long way from the days where suffering in silence and solitude was the norm. But there is still a ways to go. With that in mind, we would like to introduce you to some statistics on mental health, courtesy of the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH):
NIMH estimates that more than one in five American adults—around 23 percent—are living with some form of mental illness.
Statistically speaking, women are diagnosed with mental illness at a higher rate than men, at 27 percent compared to 18 percent.
Roughly 34 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 are living with some form of mental illness, which is the highest prevalence among adult age groups.
With those numbers in mind, consider this: fewer than half of adults living with mental illness in this country have received treatment or counseling within the past year. Women sought treatment more than men, by a margin of nearly 12 percent.
Additionally, 5.5 percent of adults in the country suffer from serious mental illness (disorders resulting in serious functional impairment) and about 65 percent of those who have severe needs have sought treatment.
If the data for adults sounds staggering, the information about teenagers is even more so: about half of youths between the ages of 13 and 18 are estimated to have some form of mental health disorder. Of those adolescents, roughly 22 percent have “severe impairment and/or distress.”
Adolescent girls have a higher incidence of mental illness than boys of the same age, and while certain mental disorders (anxiety or eating disorders, for example) appear more commonly in girls, other disorders such as ADHD or autism can be harder to diagnose in girls and young women when compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, the rate of mental illness increases as children get older, with the lowest rates seen in the age 13 to 14 range and the highest rates seen in those who are 17 to 18.
As to why those living with mental illness are not seeking care: well, one widely known part of the problem is a lack of access to services, whether due to the availability of providers, financial barriers or other limitations—but can we really, truly say that stigma doesn’t still play a role in all of this? Unfortunately, we are not sure.
Local police departments have begun to allocate funding to hire social workers to better address the mental health needs in their communities, which is a hopeful step in the right direction. But when we have covered some of these efforts, there are almost always comments about “the liberal agenda,” the “softening” of America and the acceptance of “ideologies” that certain groups find condemnable.
Can’t we just want people to get better and be able to live healthy lives without it being considered part of an agenda? Statistics have no agenda, and when the numbers say that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals of all ages are at a higher risk of suffering from suicidal ideation, harassment of various types, and severe mental distress than their heterosexual counterparts (www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/), is wanting those individuals to continue to live—and do so happily and authentically—really so bad?
At any rate, if you or someone you know is suffering, we hope you will seek help. Even if it feels hopeless, there are resources available. The NIMH provides a good list to start with; it can be found at www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.
The month is nearly over, but it doesn’t have to be May for us to work toward ending mental health stigma. Remember: it’s okay to not be okay, and help is out there. You matter.