• 27
  • January
    2012

The results of the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2010 have been released. According to the results of the U.S. government survey, many Americans suffer from mental health problems, and many of those who do struggle with a serious mental illness may not be getting the professional help that they need to prevent their conditions from worsening.

The 2010 survey consisted of face-to-face interviews with a random selection of 68,500 Americans over the age of 18. Individuals living on the streets, active-duty members of the military, prisoners and hospital patients were excluded from the survey.

Participants answered a series of questions in order to determine if they suffered from any sort of concerning mental health problem such as depression, psychosis, adjustment disorders or anxiety. What surveyors discovered was women, young adults, the unemployed and those with lower incomes were more likely to suffer from a mental illness in 2010.

The results of the national survey show that about 20 percent of the participants had a diagnosable mental illness. About 5 percent suffered from a serious disorder that had an effect on their ability to work or their personal relationships with others. The survey also revealed that only 60 percent of the individuals with disabling mental health problems sought treatment for their conditions.

Mental illness affects individuals in a variety of ways. Some Louisville, Kentucky, residents may be able to treat depression by attending regular counseling sessions with a professional, while others take prescription drugs to help manage their mental impairments. But mental health problems can also be difficult to treat and can cause individuals to become completely disabled.

As more professionals and researchers study mental health issues and understand who may be more likely to suffer from a mental health condition, it is the hope of many that individuals can eventually be treated sooner and more effectively for their mental disorders in order to prevent their conditions from taking over their professional, social and personal lives.

Source: The Washington Post, "Government survey finds that 5 percent of Americans suffer from a 'serious mental illness,'" David Brown, Jan. 18, 2012