Mental Health Facts

For better or for worse? Whether happy or not, for men, marriage generally contributes positively to their overall health. For women, however, the stress of an unhappy relationship tends to contribute negatively to heart (i.e., cardiac) health. (Source: Society for Women’s Health Research, 2002)

1 in 10 adults. Almost one in ten adults (9.5%) in the U.S. experiences some diagnosable form of depression. (Source: NIMH, 2001)

Outsmarting PTSD? Intellectual resources may help protect against the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after exposure to combat. (Source: Neuropsychology, APA, January 2002)

Smoking really can be a bummer. Teens who smoke appear to be more likely to develop depressive symptoms than their nonsmoking peers. (Source: Pediatrics, October 2001).

Higher anxiety kids. Children today report having more symptoms of anxiety than did children who were psychiatric patients in the 1950’s. Today’s kids’ anxiety is generally linked to environmental threats and lack of social connectedness. (Source: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, APA, December 2001)

“Tend-and-befriend” stress response. In addition to the better-known “fight-or-flight” response, a study of women’s responses to stress introduces a “tend-and-befriend” pattern of behavior also exists. Women often tend to respond to stress by protecting themselves and their young through nurturing behaviors (i.e., “tend”) and by forming alliances with others (i.e., “befriend”). (APA Monitor, July/August 2000)

What $1.32 can do. According to a recent actuarial analysis, the average overall cost for providing mental health coverage that is on par with physical health coverage would be $1.32 per enrollee per month. (PricewaterhouseCoopers, August 2001)

1 in 5 Kids. An estimated one (1) in five (5) children, ages 9-17, has a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder involving at least minimum impairment in their functioning at school, at home or with peers. (Source: US Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, 1999)

Beyond endorphins. Aerobic exercise can work faster than drugs to lift depression (British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2001).

Depression can be disabling. In the U.S. and worldwide, depression is the 2nd leading cause of disability. (Source: NIMH, 1999; WHO, 1998)

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