Facts & Statistics

• Alcohol
• Psychological traits such as impulsiveness, low self-esteem, or a need for approval can prompt inappropriate drinking. (APA, Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment, 2001)
• Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can worsen existing conditions such as depression or induce new problems such as memory loss, depression, or anxiety. (APA, Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment, 2001)
• More than 50% of Americans have at least one close relative with a drinking problem. (APA, Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment, 2001)
• Older adults, ages 65 and older, have the lowest rate of alcohol problems. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
• Young adults, ages 18-29, have the highest rate of alcohol problems. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
• Nearly 14 million American adults is an alcohol abuser or alcoholic at any given time. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
• Youth Violence
• School-associated violent deaths represent less than one percent of all homicides and suicides that occur among school-aged children. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control)
• More than fifty percent of all school-associated violent deaths occurred during transition times during the school day - either at the beginning or end of the day or during lunch-time. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control)
• Homicide is the leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control)
• In 2000, the juvenile male arrest rate for Violent Crime Index offenses was 4.2 times the rate for females. (National Center for Juvenile Justice)
• 40% of youth have been concerned about a potentially violent classmate. (APA, Warning Signs of Youth Violence, 1998)
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• 71% of youth say they are interested in learning about the warning signs of violence. (APA, Warning Signs of Youth Violence, 1998)
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• A child will have viewed 8,000 murders and 100,000 other acts of television violence by the time they are 11 years old. (National Television violence study)
• Young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 face the greatest risk of being a victim of violence. (Warning Signs of Youth Violence, APA, 1999)
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• One in twelve high-school students is threatened or injured with a weapon each year. (Warning Signs of Youth Violence, APA, 1999)
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• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Families of those who suffer extreme traumatic stress can also develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999).
• Approximately 9% of those exposed to extreme trauma develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999)
• Approximately 15% of Vietnam veterans are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 19 years after combat exposure (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999)
• Women who are victims of crime, and torture and concentration camp survivors suffer the highest rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999)
• Approximately 50% of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder cases remit within one year (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999)
• An estimated 8% of those who served in the Persian Gulf War in 1991 have developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Approximately 30% of those who have spent time in war zones experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• About 5.2 million U.S. adults ages 18 to 54 have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in any given year. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• The prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in women is twice that of men, 10% v. 5% (National Comorbidity Survey).
• 61% of men and 51% of women have experienced traumas linked to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. (National Comorbidity Survey).
• Resilience
• Resilience is a personal process, and not all people develop it the same way. (APA, The Road to Resilience, 2002)
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• Resilience involves behaviors, thoughts, and actions that can be learned by anyone. (APA, The Road to Resilience, 2002)
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• Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant forms of stress. (APA, The Road to Resilience, 2002)
• Stigma
• 20% of Americans might not choose to seek help from a mental health professional because they feel there is a stigma associated with therapy. (APA Survey 2004)
• 91% of Americans are likely to consult or recommend that a family member consult with a mental health professional. (APA Survey 2004)
• 35% of Americans give the media the most credit for reducing the stigma surrounding mental health services. (APA Survey 2004)
• Almost 50% of Americans think the stigma of seeking mental health services has decreased. (APA Survey 2004)
• 30% of Americans say they would be concerned about other people knowing they saw a mental health professional. (APA Survey 2004)
• Privacy
• 25% of Americans would be concerned about privacy if their employerís human resources department found out they were seeing a mental health professional. (APA Survey 2004)
• 25% of Americans say they would be less concerned about someone finding out they had been seeing a mental health professional than they would have been five years ago. (APA Survey 2004)
• 68% of Americans would not be concerned if someone found out they were seeking help from a mental health professional. (APA Survey 2004)
• 21% of Americans said that concerns about other people finding out might be a reason not to seek help from a mental health professional. (APA Survey 2004)
• Miscellaneous
• Interpersonal skills are increasingly being seen as important indicators of job success. (APA, Which Traits Predict Job Performance, 1996)
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• Layoffs can create negative psychological and behavioral consequences for those left behind. (APA, Downsizing Survivors, 1997)
• People in counseling should periodically review their progress with their therapist. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Psychotherapy works best when both patient and counselor communicate openly. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• School
• The transition between elementary and secondary school marks a point where some kids thrive and others begin a serious downward spiral. (APA, Middle School Malaise, 1996)
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• Between 70 and 80% of children with mental health disorders receive counseling within their school system. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Kids & Teens
• Between 20% and 50% of depressed kids and teens have a family history of depression. (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Survey, 1999)
• An estimated 10-20% of children worldwide have one or more mental health or behavioral problems. (World Health Organization)
• Family & Relationships
• Mental health disorders in kids and teens can result in significant impairments at home, school and with peers. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Children of stepfamilies face higher risks of emotional and behavioral problems (APA, Interventions that Work for Stepfamilies).
• Children of depressed parents are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression. (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Survey, 1999)
• Health & Emotional Wellness
• Chronic and serious illness such as heart disease or cancer may be accompanied by depression. (APA, How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression, 1998)
• A breast cancer diagnosis can impair womenís psychological functioning, which in turn can jeopardize their physical health. (APA, Breast Cancer: How Your Mind Can Help Your Body, 1998)
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• Studies have shown patients with advanced breast cancer who undergo group therapy live longer than those who do not. (APA, Breast Cancer: How Your Mind Can Help Your Body, 1998)
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• Itís important to address an illness on both an emotional and physical level (APA, Coping with Serious Illness).
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• Optimism can improve a personís physical health. (APA, Learned Optimism Yields Health Benefits)
• Psychology can help family and loved ones cope with the effects of a serious or life-threatening illness. (APA, Coping with Serious Illness)
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• Psychology can help manage the side effects of medical treatments. (APA, Coping with Serious Illness).
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• Studies have shown if the mind is in good shape then quality of life is better. (APA, Coping with Serious Illness).
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• Disasters & Terrorism
• Most children and teens who experience a disaster or terrorism will recover fully if given proper counseling (NIMH).
• Teachers and school administrators can play a valuable role in helping children and teens cope with a disaster or terrorism (NIMH).
• 63% of Americans say the fear of the threat of terrorism would be reduced by increased knowledge about the mental health effects of terrorism. (National Mental Health Association and NASMDPD Survey)
• Three-fourths of Americans believe public officials could do a better job of explaining the mental health impact of terrorism on the nation. (National Mental Health Association and NASMDPD Survey)
• Two-thirds of Americans believe mental health professionals should play a very important role in helping Americans deal with the psychological or mental health impact of the threat of terrorism. (National Mental Health Association and NASMDPD Survey)
• Bullying
• Bullying happens most frequently during sixth to eighth grade. (JAMA, 2001)
• More than 88% of junior high and high school students say they have witnessed bullying in their schools. (JAMA, 2001)
• Approximately 30% of youth in the U.S. are estimated to be involved in bullying either as a target, a bully, or both. (JAMA, 2001)
• 35 to 40% of former bullies have 3 or more criminal convictions by age 24. (JAMA, 2001)
• Up to 85% of bullying takes place before peers, but only a handful of kids intervene to stop it. (NYS Psychologist, May/June 2003).
• Approximately 1.7 children in grades 6 through 10 bully other students at least once a week. (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2001)
• Approximately 1.6 children in grades 6 through 10 are bullied at least once a week. (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2001)
• Panic Disorders
• Panic disorder can sometimes be connected with major life transitions that are potentially stressful: graduating from college, getting married, having a first child, and so on. (APA, Anxiety Disorders: The Role of Psychotherapy in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• Panic Disorder is a serious condition that around one out of every 75 people might experience. (APA, Anxiety Disorders: The Role of Psychotherapy in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• About one in three people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Panic disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Approximately 2.4 million American adults have panic disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Only 1 out of 4 people with panic disorder receive treatment. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Approximately 1 out of 75 people may experience panic disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Twice as many women suffer panic disorder than men. (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999)
• Roughly 50-60% of those who suffer from panic disorder also suffer from a major depressive disorder. (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999)
• Panic disorder is diagnosed when a person suffers at least two unexpected panic attacks and seriously worries about having future attacks or changes their behavior to avoid or minimize future attacks (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999).
• Roughly 10% of healthy people experience an isolated panic attack in a given year. (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999)
• Most panic attacks last less than 30 minutes (U.S. Surgeon Generalís Report, 1999)
• Anxiety Disorder
• That therapy can be highly effective in treating anxiety disorders. (APA, Anxiety Disorders Fact Sheet, 1998)
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• Women are more likely than men to have an anxiety disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with depressive disorders, eating disorders, or substance abuse. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• More than 19 million American adults have an anxiety disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• ADHD
• Attention Deficit Disorder usually becomes evident in preschool or early elementary years. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• About two to three times more boys than girls are affected by attention deficit disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects an estimated 4.1% of youths ages 9 ñ 17 in a 6-month period. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Autism
• Autism affects an estimated 1 to 2 per 1,000 people. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Autism is about four times more common in boys that girls. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Bipolar Disorder
• The average age at onset for a first manic episode of bipolar disorder is the early twenties. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Men and women are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.3 million American adults annually. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Depression
• Chances for recovery for depressed individuals who seek professional care are very good. (APA, How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression, 1998)
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• Through therapy, people can learn coping techniques and problem solving skills to deal with depression and other mental health disorders. (APA, How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression, 1998)
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• Support from family and friends plays a crucial role in helping someone with depression. (APA, How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression, 1998)
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• Therapy may reduce the chance of future episodes of depression. (APA, How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression, 1998)
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• Having one episode of depression greatly increases the risk of having another episode. (APA, How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression, 1998)
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• Depression can interfere with daily activities such as work, eating and sleeping. (APA, How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression, 1998)
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• Fewer than 25 % of those with depression world-wide have access to effective treatments. (World Health Organization)
• Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. (World Health Organization)
• An estimated 5.8% of men and 9.5% of women world-wide will experience a depressive episode in any given year. (World Health Organization)
• An estimated 121 million people world-wide currently suffer from depression. (World Health Organization)
• Eight to 20 percent of older adults experience symptoms of depression. (Surgeon Generalís Report on Mental Health 1999)
• Depression often co-occurs with anxiety disorders and substance abuse. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Approximately six million American men suffer from depression. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Nearly twice as many American women as men are affected by depression. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Approximately 18.8 million American adults have depression. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Eating Disorders
• Eating disorders can severely impair peopleís functioning and health. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• People with eating disorders tend to suffer from other mental health disorders like depression or anxiety. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• People with binge eating disorder may develop problems associated with obesity. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• People with binge eating disorder may develop diabetes. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• Binge eating disorders can lead to high blood pressure. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• Eating disorders contribute to physical problems such as anemia, hair and bone loss, and tooth decay. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• One in ten anorexia cases ends in death from starvation, suicide or medical complications like heart attacks or kidney failure. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• Research shows that eating disorders are one of the psychological problems least likely to be treated. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• Certain psychological factors predispose people to developing eating disorders. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• People with anorexia tend to be perfectionists, while people with bulimia are often impulsive. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• Most people with eating disorders suffer from low self-esteem and feelings of helplessness. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• People with eating disorders tend to withdraw from social contact and hide their eating behavior. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• People sometimes have eating disorders without family or friends suspecting a problem. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• People with binge eating disorder experience frequent episodes of out-of-control eating. (APA, Eating Disorders: Psychotherapyís Role in Effective Treatment, 1998)
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• Approximately 35% of people with binge-eating disorder are male. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• An estimated 5% to 15% of people with anorexia and bulimia are male. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Females are much more likely to develop an eating disorder than males. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Between 2% and 5% of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• The three main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• The first symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder often begin during childhood or adolescence. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Approximately 3.3 million American adults have obsessive-compulsive disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Schizophrenia
• 90% of people with untreated schizophrenia are in developing countries. (World Health Organization)
• More than 50% of persons worldwide with schizophrenia are not receiving appropriate care. (World Health Organization)
• Approximately 2.2 million American adults have schizophrenia. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• About 24 million people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia. (World Health Organization)
• Phobias
• Approximately 3.2 million adults have agoraphobia, a fear of leaving their house. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Social phobia typically begins in childhood or adolescence. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Approximately 5.3 million American adults ages 18 to 54, have social phobia. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Cost of Untreated Mental Health Disorders
• 81% of Americans say cost is an important reason for not seeing a mental health professional. (APA Survey 2004)
• Untreated mental health disorders cost American businesses $79 billion in lost productivity per year. (Surgeon Generalís Report on Mental Health 1999.)
• Insurance
• Fifteen percent of the adult population uses some form of mental health services during the year. (APA Survey 2004)
• In 1996, the United States spent more than $99 billion for the direct treatment of mental health disorders. (Surgeon Generalís Report on Mental Health 1999)
• 97% of Americans believe access to mental health care is important. (APA Survey 2004)
• 85% of Americans say health insurance should cover mental health services. (APA Survey 2004)
• 87% of Americans cite lack of insurance coverage as a top reason for not seeking mental health services. (APA Survey 2004)
• Psychotherapy
• 21% of children ages 9 to 17 receive mental health services in a given year. (Surgeon Generalís Report on Mental Health 1999)
• Nearly two-thirds of all people with mental health disorders do not seek treatment. (Surgeon Generalís Report on Mental Health 1999)
• Nine out of ten Americans say psychotherapy helped them. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Therapy can help you learn effective ways to deal with stressful and problematic situations. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Mental Health Disorders
• More than 44 million Americans suffer from a mental health disorder. (National Institutes of Mental Health)
• Approximately 4 million youth ages 9 ñ 17 suffer from a major mental health disorder. (Surgeon Generalís Report on Mental Health 1999)
• Psychology
• Americans are most likely to consult a mental health professional for suicidal feelings, drug or alcohol dependency, or eating disorders. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Nine in ten Americans say they are likely to consult a mental health professional or recommend that a family member do. (APA Survey 2004)
• Women are more likely to be in households where someone has received help from a mental health professional. (APA Survey 2004)
• 95% of women say they are likely to consult a mental health professional or recommend a family member do so, versus 87% of men. (APA Survey 2004)
• Nearly 50% of American households have had someone see a mental health professional. (APA Survey 2004)
• Therapy and Chronic Illness and Disease
• Research shows that 20 to 60 percent of breast cancer patients experience symptoms of depression.(APA, Breast Cancer: How Your Mind Can Help Your Body, 1998)
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• Research shows that 50 percent of patients noticeably improved after eight therapy sessions while 75 percent of individuals in psychotherapy improved by the end of six months. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Research shows most people who have at least several sessions of psychotherapy are far better off than untreated individuals with emotional difficulties. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Therapy can help improve a person's overall health status. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Research increasingly supports the idea that emotional and physical health are very closely linked. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Psychotherapy can have a positive effect on the body's immune system. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Psychotherapy has been found to increase survival time for heart surgery and cancer patients. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Research suggests that therapy effectively decreases patients' depression and anxiety and related symptoms -- such as pain, fatigue and nausea. (APA, How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy, 1998)
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• Psychologists
• Clinical psychologists must be licensed in the state in which they practice. (APA, Talk to Someone Who Can Help, 1996)
• Stress
• Having good mental health helps you make good decisions and deal with lifeÌs challenges at home, work and school. (APA, How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression, 1998)
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• Two thirds of Americans say they are likely to seek help for stress. (APA Survey 2004)
• 45% of workers list job insecurity has a significant impact on work stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• 61% of workers list heavy workloads as a significant impact on work stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• Executives and managers tend to have the most stressful jobs, while self-employed workers are the least stressed. (APA Survey 2004)
• A majority of workers (52%) are more stressed because of work than home. (APA Survey 2004)
• 54% of workers are concerned about health problems caused by stress. (APA Survey 2004)
• One in four workers have taken a mental health day off from work to cope with stress. (APA Survey 2004)
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• 62% of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• 73% of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level. (APA Survey 2004)
• Fifty-four percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives. (APA Survey 2004)