If we want to break down discrimination and stigma surrounding mental illnesses we need to start talking about mental health. Everyone knows a little about mental health issues but knowing the facts about mental illness can help you to educate others and reject stigmatizing stereotypes.

Mental illness is not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Understanding mental health isn’t only about being able to identify symptoms and having a name for these conditions but dispelling many false ideas about mental health conditions as well. Mental illnesses are common and treatable, and help is available

Mental Health Statistics

Promote Hope…Rise from Stigma

• 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives.

• 1 in 20 people will develop a serious mental illness.

• The average delay between onset of symptoms and intervention is 8-10 years.

• Half of all cases of mental illness start by age 14, and three-quarters by age 24.

• 20% of youth between 13 and 18 live a with mental health condition. (NAMI)

• Major depression episodes among Texas adolescents between 12 and 17 have been increasing steadily since 2010. In 2013-14, 11.2% of all adolescents in Texas (262,00) experienced at least one major depression episode in the previous year. (US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

• Over 50% of students with a mental illness drop out of high school. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2015)

• Only 44% of adults and less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive needed treatment. (mentalhealth.gov)