A National Tragedy

destinations

A National Tragedy

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A National Tragedy

	In the U.S., more than 19 million people suffer from anxiety disorders and depression, making this the
	leading form of mental illness.

	Anxiety disorders and depression account for nearly one third of the nation’s total mental health bill of
	$148 billion annually.

	Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents nationwide.

	Statistics show that children who run away from home and live on the streets are often escaping
	from parents and grandparents who are drug using abusive adults.

	Older patients with symptoms of depression have roughly 50% higher health care costs than non-
	depressed seniors.

	While people over 65 constitute only 13% of the total population, they account for over 20% of the suicide
	rate.

	White males over age 85 have nearly 6 times the suicide rate as the rest of the population.

	Though an exact figure is difficult to obtain, an estimated 25-50% of all people with mental health
	disorders also have substance abuse problems. This is often brought on by attempts to self-medicate.

	Though men are less likely to suffer from depression than women, nearly 4 million men suffer in the
	U.S. today.

	Two million Americans suffer from bi-polar disorder.

	Approximately one in five people with bi-polar disorder commits suicide. That is 30 TIMES higher than the
	general population.

	50% of people with bi-polar disorder attempt suicide at least once.

	Nearly 60% of all homeless people are mentally ill.

	Today, the average homeless person is 9 years old. One third of these children have experienced
	homelessness more than once in their short lives.

	In 1998, 284,000 people were incarcerated in the U.S. That is 4 times the number of people in state
	mental hospitals.

	Nearly 46% of incarcerated people are mentally ill. This statistic is slightly higher for those in juvenile
	facilities.