–

Mental illness stats:

More than a quarter (26.3%) of adults aged 18 to 25 years old were diagnosed with a mental disorder in 2018. (SAMHSA, 2018)

Nearly 8% of adults aged 18 to 25 years old had a severe mental illness in 2018. (SAMHSA, 2018)

-More than half of the people who have a mental illness don’t receive help for their disorders. (APA)

Why aren’t people getting help?

One reason is that the stigma attached to mental illness makes it much more difficult.

A 2016 study on mental health stigma concluded that “there is no country, society or culture where people with mental illness have the same societal value as people without a mental illness.”

Stigma and discrimination exist in:

–Media: News that disproportionally covers violent crimes committed by the mentally ill, horror movies about serial killers with mental illness (Split, Silence of the Lambs, Halloween).

-Employment: APA 2019 national poll: More than 1 in 3 workers were concerned about retaliation or being fired if they sought mental health care.

-Healthcare: A study found that psychiatrists who were interviewed showed less desire for social contact with patients with schizophrenia compared to persons with either depression or no symptoms.

Fear of:
-Judgment (being seen as weak, crazy, selfish, incompetent, dangerous)
-Discrimination
-Losing housing, employment, family

All these things prevent people from getting the help they need, and result from lack of understanding and familiarity with mental illness.