NAMI-GC College Outreach Program

The U.S. Surgeon’s General’s Landmark 1999 Report on Mental Health stated that “mental health” was defined by a person’s:

• Ability to engage in productive activities.
• Ability to engage in fulfilling relationships with others.
• Ability to adapt to change.
• Capacity to cope with adversity.

A “mental illness” is a health condition characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination of the above) that impair or affect a person’s daily life and functioning. Everyone experiences different moods and thoughts, and acts differently sometimes. When those moods, thoughts, and behaviors are interfering with a person’s daily life and ability to function over a period of time, however, they may be symptoms of a mental illness.

Mental illness can affect persons of all ages, races, socio-economic levels, religions, educational backgrounds, and gender. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• 1 in 4 adults (18 years+)—approximately 57.7 million Americans— experience a mental health disorder in a given year.
• 1 in 17 lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder.
• 1 in 10 children (less than 18 years) have a serious mental or emotional disorder
• Fewer than 1 out of 3 adults and half of children with a diagnosable mental disorder receive any mental health services in a given year.
• 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and 75% have begun by age 24

While mental illness is more common than cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and heart disease, it is also treatable—even the most serious mental illnesses have treatment success rates of 80% or more. While mental illness cannot be cured, research has shown that therapy combined with medication is very effective in the treatment of most serious mental illnesses.

It is important to remember that mental illnesses are chronic medical conditions and recovery is not a straight line, but it is also important to remember that there is hope. While finding the right treatment may take some time or be difficult, it works if a person can get it.

For more information, please go to the mental illness fact sheets.