The Epidemic Rates Of Mental Health Concerns

The Rise in Mental Health in the United States: Comprehending the Past and Moving Forward, Especially in Youth

Between the ages 16-24, approximately 3.2% of males and 3.6% females have had bipolar disorder.

About one in every one hundred people will experience Bipolar I disorder over their lifetime, affecting both men and woman equally. The rate of Bipolar II disorder has been estimated at between one and five per hundred Australians, with rates higher in women (Mind health connect, 2016). Bipolar disorder often develops around mid-to-late adolescence however this disorder can be difficult to detect therefore an accurate diagnosis can take 10-20 years. Early onset of bipolar disorder in children is rare (Proudfoot, Parker, Benoit, Manicavasagar, Smith, & Gayed, 2009).

Prevalence Adolescent population ranges from 0.06-0.1 percent of general population, with prevalence rates as high as 5.7 percent with subthreshold manic symptoms. Over the past 15 years Bipolar diagnosis and treatment has increased 40 times with youth hospitalization rates increasing from 3.3 per 10,000 to 5.7 per 10,000 (Sadock et al, 2015). Adult Bipolar II disorder internationally is estimated at 0.3% with 0.8% prevalence in the United States (APA, 2013).

Inpatient Family Services (IFS) will offer families with inpatient members, assistance, resources and support for navigating the inpatient mental health system. Family members who contact IFS will receive assistance with general information and questions regarding our services, and other resources which pertain to the inpatient mental health system. The information provided may include, but is not limited to, the following: information on hospitals and IMD facilities, questions regarding courses offered by IFS and outside resources, information on transportation to facilities, and information on support groups. The IFS staff member may conduct a family needs assessment to help the family determine their specific

Bipolar disorder is diagnosed as a psychological mood disorder. Genetic factors and social environment are both believed to be the possible causes in developing the disorder. The average age of onset is 25 years old, however, symptoms can first start appearing in the late teen years and into the young adult years, however 75% of first episodes occur between 12 and 30 years old. Bipolar disorder affects 2.6 percent of American adults. Children who have an immediate family member such as a sibling or a parent with the disorder will have a higher risk of acquiring the disorder. In addition, adults who suffered emotional abuse in childhood also have an increased risk. (Glynn Ph.D., Kangas & Pickett, Ph.D., 2014; O 'Connell, 2016; Troubled childhood may boost bipolar risk: Study, 2016).

Recent research has shown that young people face a varying number of challenges during maturation. Pearce, Cross, Monks, Waters and Falconer (2011) found that common stressors and anxieties for young people are related to relational issues (e.g., family, romantic), scholastic obligations (e.g., study), self-esteem (e.g., body image), emotional wellbeing, and bullying. As such, the mental wellbeing of young people is becoming a serious national issue. Annually, on average 27% of young people aged from 16 to 24 are experiencing some form of mental illness or mental health problems (Slade, Johnston, Oakley Browne, Andrews, & Whiteford,

The lifetime prevalence rate for Bipolar I Disorder is 0.6% and the 12-month prevalence rate is 0.4% of the overall population (Merikangas et al, 2011). The United States had the highest reported lifetime prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders with 4.4% and a 12-month prevalence of 2.8%. In addition, lifetime prevalence rates for bipolar I disorder were found to be slightly higher in males than in females. While much of the reported prevalence rates for bipolar disorder are based on adults 18 years and older, Merikangas et al. (2010) reported prevalence rates in the United States for adolescents including 3.3% for males and 2.6% for females. It was also reported that prevalence rates continue to steadily increase throughout

In this country, individuals with a mental health illness make up half of all correctional facility intakes, which is rivaled with eleven percent of the overall populace, however, only 1 in 9 incarcerated individuals are given any care for their mental illness (Anasseril, 2007). When the much-needed care is absent in prisons and jails, inmates with mental health disorders experience excruciating signs and their disorder can decline and be plagued with misconceptions and delusions, unbearable worries, dangerous and uncontainable temperament (Ambrasky,2003). There are varying estimates on precisely how many individuals within the confines of prisons and jails that are mentally ill. According to a report by Abramsky, (2003) there is a projected 16% of state, federal, and local jails that consist of inmates with mental health issues. Althouse had comparable estimates in 2010, conveying study outcomes that suggested roughly 16% of the incarcerated individuals were quantified as having a mental disorder and more than 100,000 were being given psychotropic medication. Deslich, Thistlewaite, and Coutasse, (2013) estimated around 14-15% of inmates had a form of mental health disorder. These percentages are significant when compared to the 5% of the outside population that endure a mental disorder (Abramsky, 2003, pg. 17). According to reports from some states, there is a substantial rise in the percentage of incarcerated

The physical and mental health of homeless individuals is considerably worse than that of the general population. The prevalence of mental health disorder is astronomically higher among the homeless population. The use of alcohol abuse is usually associated with one or two other psychological disorders. There are many people who have outside issues as well such as physical abuse, antisocial, and sexual abuse. Their motivation to get out of being homeless is usually poor because of poor motivation, no support system, and depression.

Few can question the observable rise of diagnosed mental disorders in recent times. Just decades ago, certain children were just “odd” and didn’t receive special treatment. Now, parents scrutinize their children to determine if the mental disorder “epidemic” has too struck their family. In the ever-changing field of psychology, one common is emerging. More and more people are becoming diagnosed with mental disorders. In the attempt to explain this, doctors and scientists have fallen on both sides of the issue. Some believe that mental conditions really are on the rise. Others demand that more factors are involved. The rapid increase in diagnosis of people with minor mental disorders and their medication is not justified and has led

This article is interesting because it places the largest causes of everyday stress and anxiety into perspective. The twenty-first century has revolutionized the world more so than any; the amount of cases of General Anxiety Disorder has skyrocketed in the past twenty years. Since the invention of cellphones, which were designed to make life easier, cases of clinical anxiety have steadily increased annually. Politics, health and finances are keeping nations from sleeping. Is this the beginning of a mental health epidemic? Perhaps the aforementioned epidemic has already started.

Pre-adolescence is a crucial stage in a child’s life because it is during this stage that kids can learn the coping mechanism that can prevent complications later on in life (Britton et al., 2014). Some children and adolescents may not have the opportunity to seek proper mental health care during their childhood. This may be due to parents overworking or simply not being able to afford quality mental health care services (Bucci et al., 2016). However, schools can serve children and adolescents as a

At least 2 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder, more commonly known as manic-depression. This illness usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. Although it may come into affect at any time, most individuals with the disorder experience their first mood episode in their 20’s. However, manic-depression quite often strike teenagers and has been diagnosed in children under 12.

In a time when mental health concerns are becoming better known on a widespread basis and the recognition of need for their care and treatment is clearer than ever, one mental health issue is often overlooked at an alarming rate, compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue, or secondary traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health plague among healthcare workers which must be addressed in the early stages for the sake of both employees and their patients. Physical and mental health workers are often caring for patients in traumatic, life-changing situations in which the patient requires compassion more than ever before in their lives. These health care workers are giving a piece of themselves away with each patient, but their cries for help often go unrecognized and it begins to become an emotional burden. Healthcare workers are often seen as tireless, seemingly endless, wells of compassion and love for their fellow human, when in reality, they share the same need for self-care and assistance as the rest of us. Compassion fatigue must be addressed if we seek to train, build, and employ these healthcare workers while expecting them to care for patients with the same passion they would care for their loved ones.