Trends in Mental Illness - Local and National

National Trends in mental illness

• An estimated 26.2% of Americans ages 18 and older (57.7 million people) suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder (e.g., depression, anxiety disorder, panic disorder) in a given year.
• Although mental disorders are widespread in the population, about 6% suffer from a serious mental illness (people who are significantly functionally impaired by the illness for an indefinite period of time).
• Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for people ages 15-44.
• Nearly half (45%) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for two or more disorders, with severity strongly related to co morbidity.
• Rates of depression among women are 1.5 to 3 times that of men.

Trends in mental illness among low-income populations

• Women from low-income groups are about twice as likely as those from higher-income groups to be depressed.
• The percentage of low-income individuals having problems with, or being diagnosed with, a mental health problem or disorder has increased from 21% in 1998 to 43% in 2004.
• In 2004, 36% of respondents with low-incomes reported being diagnosed with depression, compared to 20% in 1998. By contrast, rates of depression among those with higher incomes have been relatively stable (19% in 2004, compared to 17% in 1998).
• 32% of individuals with low incomes have problems with depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems, vs. 16% of those with higher incomes.

Source: http://missourifamilies.org/cfb/briefs/mental.pdf

On the Local Level - State of Oregon

Among single adults in Oregon, 1,825 self-reported they were homeless due to a drug or alcohol problem, and 1,127 cited a mental or emotional disorder.

Multiple responses were allowed, so some individuals may have given both reasons. These factors were cited almost as often as the most common response, unemployment.

The state also looked at how many homeless Oregonians had “secondary population characteristics.” These were not necessarily the same issues that individuals said had caused their homelessness. However, the numbers tell a similar story.

Among all ages and living situations,

2,358 were listed as having mental or emotional problems, 2,829 had problems with substance abuse, and 1,015 have both a mental illness and an addiction.

Individuals could be counted in more than one category.

Among Oregonians meeting the statewide definition of chronic homelessness, 1,555 had substance abuse problems, 1,326 had an emotional or mental disorder, and 618 had a dual diagnosis.

In Multnomah County, among the chronically homeless, substance abuse (462) was the most common secondary characteric, followed by mental or emotional disorder (372) and dual diagnosis (221).

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness,

nationally about half of people experiencing homelessness suffers from mental health issues. At any given point in time, 45 percent of homeless people report they have had mental health problems during the past year. About 25 percent of the homeless are affected by serious mental illness. Homelessness also creates and exacerbates mental and physical health problems.

Source:

http://www.examiner.com/mental-health-in-portland/mental-illness-addiction-contribute-to-growing-homeless-population-oregon

Author: Angela Miller