mental health facts

FACTS FROM THE CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receive them.
Surpassed only by injuries, mental disorders in youth are ranked as the second highest hospital care expenditure in Canada.
Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents; 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.
Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80% of people who are affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities.
The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million.
Today, approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode.
It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder - the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community.
Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem.
The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age.
Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.
Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.
Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Canadian population.
By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.
Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.
In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.
Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures.

FACTS FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a diverse group of conditions. Characteristics of autism may be detected in early childhood, but autism is often not diagnosed until much later.
About one in 270 people has an ASD(1).
The abilities and needs of people with autism vary and can evolve over time. While some people with autism can live independently, others have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support.
Evidence-based psychosocial interventions can improve communication and social skills, with a positive impact on the well-being and quality of life of people with autism and also their caregivers.
People with autism are often subject to stigma, discrimination and human rights violations.
Care for people with autism needs to be accompanied by actions at community and societal levels for greater accessibility, inclusivity and support.
DEMENTIA
Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities.
Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not a normal part of ageing.
Dementia has a physical, psychological, social, and economic impact, not only on people with dementia, but also on their carers, families and society at large.
Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60-70% of cases.
Worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.
DEPRESSION
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression.
There are effective psychological and pharmacological treatments for moderate and severe depression.
Depression can lead to suicide.
More women are affected by depression than men.
EPILEPSY
Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects people of all ages.
In many parts of the world, people with epilepsy and their families suffer from stigma and discrimination.
Three quarters of people with epilepsy living in low-income countries do not get the treatment they need.
The risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than for the general population.
It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure- free if properly diagnosed and treated.
Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries.
Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally.
HEADACHE DISORDERS
Headache disorders are among the most common disorders of the nervous system.
Headaches have been underestimated, under-recognized and under-treated throughout the world.
Worldwide, a minority of people with headache disorders are diagnosed appropriately by a health-care provider.
Headache disorders, which are characterized by recurrent headache, are associated with personal and societal burdens of pain, disability, damaged quality of life, and financial cost.
It has been estimated that almost half of the adult population have had a headache at least once within the last year.
MENTAL DISORDERS
There are effective treatments for mental disorders and ways to alleviate the suffering caused by them. Access to health care and social services capable of providing treatment and social support is key.
There are effective strategies for preventing mental disorders such as depression.
Mental disorders include: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychoses, dementia, and developmental disorders including autism.
There are many different mental disorders, with different presentations. They are generally characterized by a combination of abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others.
MENTAL HEALTH IN EMERGENCIES
Despite their tragic nature and adverse effects on mental health, emergencies have shown to be opportunities to build sustainable mental health systems for all people in need.
International guidelines recommend services at a number of levels ̶ from basic services to clinical care ̶ and indicate that mental health care needs to be made available immediately for specific, urgent mental health problems as part of the health response.
People with severe mental disorders are especially vulnerable during emergencies and need access to mental health care and other basic needs.
Depression and anxiety become more common as people get older.
Depression tends to be more common among women than men.
One person in five (22%) living in an area affected by conflict is estimated to have depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Among people who have experienced war or other conflict in the previous 10 years, one in 11 (9%) will have a moderate or severe mental disorder.
Almost all people affected by emergencies will experience psychological distress, which for most people will improve over time.
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Facilitation of assisted living, supported housing and supported employment are effective management strategies for people with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is treatable. Treatment with medicines and psychosocial support is effective.
Stigma, discrimination and violation of human rights of people with schizophrenia is common.
People with schizophrenia are 2-3 times more likely to die early than the general population. This is often due to preventable physical diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and infections.
Worldwide, schizophrenia is associated with considerable disability and may affect educational and occupational performance.
Schizophrenia is characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour. Common experiences include hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things that are not there) and delusions (fixed, false beliefs).
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder affecting 20 million people worldwide.
SUICIDE
Ingestion of pesticide, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally.
79% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.
For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide every year. A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year.

WHAT DOES BEING INTELLECTUALLY HEALTHY LOOK LIKE?

Reaching a balance between life activities, responsibilities, and efforts + Achieving psychological resilience
Contribute actively to our communities
Enjoying life
Working productively
Feeling connected to others
Having strong relationships
Making meaningful contributions to the community
Being able to cope with the stresses of life
Realizing your full potential and having a sense of purpose
Having a wide variety of emotional states

FACTORS THAT AFFECT INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS

Life experiences
trauma
abuse
sexual assault
witnessing violence
those related to other ongoing medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes
A range of socioeconomic, biological, and environmental conditions
Genes, brain chemistry, and chemical imbalances
Family history of mental health problems
Rapid social change
Social exclusion + involvement
Gender discrimination
Housing quality
Education
Stressful work conditions + occupation
Physical ill-health and human rights violations
Unhealthy lifestyle

MENTAL HEALTH VS. MENTAL ILLNESS - HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

Mental health is about our mental well-being: our emotions, thoughts, feelings, ability to solve problems and overcome difficulties, our social connections, and our understanding of the world around us.

Mental illness is an illness that affects the way people think, feel, behave, or interact with others, and can occur when the brain (or part of the brain) is functioning abnormally or is working in the wrong way. When the brain is not working properly, one or more of its 6 functions (thinking, perception, emotion, signalling, physical, and/or behaviour) will be disrupted.

Thinking difficulties/problems focusing attention
Extreme emotional highs and lows
Sleep problems
When these symptoms significantly disrupt a person's life, we say that the person has a mental disorder / illness

Causes of mental illness:

Mental illness is rarely if ever caused by stress alone
It is not the result of personal weakness / deficits in personality
It is not the manifestation of malevolent spiritual intent
Only in exceptional cases is it caused by nutritional factors

Many mental illnesses begin during childhood and persist into adolescence. Some of these include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

But some illnesses begin during adolescence, including:

Addictions
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Eating disorders
Social anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Bipolar Disorder (BD)
Schizophrenia
Major Depression (MD)

Mental illnesses are NOT:

a sign of personal weakness/failure
punishment for bad deeds
caused by spirits/demons
contagious

RESOURCES

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"Mental Health Literacy Pyramid Explained (Explication De La Pyramide De Litarcie En Santé Mentale)." YouTube, MHLiteracy, 14 Apr. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgYmIsYmUIU&ab_channel=TeenMentalHealth.Org.
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"Mental Health: Strengthening Our Response." World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 30 Mar. 2018, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response.
"Mental Well-Being: Resources for the Public ." World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/mental-well-being-resources-for-the-public.
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