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A sad story: What Mental Health Awareness

Mental health

By Katie SchwenkPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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A sad story: What Mental Health Awareness
Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

1 in 5 adults in America experience mental illness. Nearly 1 in 25 adults suffer serious mental illness. One half of all chronic mental illness begins before the age of 14; 75% by age of 24. 1 in 100 (2.4 million) American adults live with schizophrenia. 26% ( 6.1 million) American adults live with bipolar disorder. 6.9% (16 million) American adults live with severe depression, 18.1% ( 42 million) of American adults live with anxiety disorders. 46.4% of American adults will suffer a mental illness in their lifetime.

According to NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) mental health disorders are health conditions involving changes in motion, thinking or behavior or a combo of both. Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work, or family activities. Mental health is NORMAL. American adults ages 18-25 take up seat as highest diagnosed age group at 25.8%, 26-44, 22%, 50+ ,13.8%. The numbers on childhood diagnosis is mind blowing: 13-22% of children living in the US (1 out of 5) experience a mental disorder in a given year ~~ roughly $257 billion is spent a year on childhood disorders.

It's a sad realization when you are diagnosed with a mental illness, that you are the pit of the jokes (after everyone learns your secret), you are always on guard. There is a stigma that encompasses mental illness patients, almost a sense of inferiority to those that do not suffer from mental illness. That they are going to crack or spaz out at any given moment. Or that they can't handle their activities of daily living (adl). Or that they can't hold a job. You closed minded fools, you would be amazed to know that with the right medication and therapy anything is attainable. They didn't ask to be born the way that they were. Some cases are debilitating. You wouldn't give a cancer patient a hard time over their illness, what's the difference with a mental health patient. No 1 human being is inferior to the other.

Robin Williams, Chris Evans, Chrissy Teigan, and Prince Harry are just a few A list celebrities that have come out with their own mental health experience. DROP THE STIGMA!! If you don't take it as a thorn in your side, and learn its attributes it can be quite the superpower. What boggles my mind are the stats. 1 in 5 people!!! 1in 5!!!!!!!!

Mental Illness does not discriminate. Your financial status can't save you.

India is the most depressed country in the world, followed by China, United States. China is most affected by schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Anxiety is the most prevalent mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults ages 18+ is 18.1% of adult population. Let that sink in.

And then there are our vets. Strongest men and women, most dedicated, courageous people in the world. I salute you! Veteran's Affairs requested $10.2 billion for vets mental health services, an increase of $683 million (7.1%) above 2020. This request includes $313 million for suicide prevention, an increase of $76 million (32%) above 2020. Please put your life on the line for all of us but when you need America they just push you out the door.

The innocent of the world aren't saved either. The amount of youth diagnosed for instance 13-14 year old 45.3% are diagnosed with Mental Health Illness; 15-16 year olds 49.3%; 17-18 year olds 56.7%.

So my question is this: with the numbers as staggering and mind blowing as they are, why are we not giving/spending more to help EVERYONE. kids, vets, moms, sisters, brothers, grandmas, papas too. As sad as this is if it were anyother disease it probably wouldn't be an issue, cancer HIV/AIDS no question send them funding. But Mental Health diagnoses bring stares, whispers, and abruptly leaving.

And it's not just the patient who "walks the course" of their diagnosis; caregivers, spouses, children siblings, friends, coworker all wear badges of honor, mental scars, and sometimes hurt.

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About the Creator

Katie Schwenk

Mom to almost a baseball team!!! My husband brought 3 kids to our marriage and I brought 4. We are crazy busy and definitely opinionated.

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