Survey: 1 in 5 U.S. Adults Face Mental Illness

[JackLuis]

SO randomly speaking, 20% of you American fuckers are crazy?

AP) The government says 1 in 5 American adults suffered from mental illness during the past year. Most didn't receive treatment.

How many voted?

 

[Liar]

I face mental illness every day. I call them customers.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I face mental illness every day. I call them customers.

Given how broadly and widely 'mental illness' has been redefined in the past few years that's hardly a surprise. There was a SF story I read once where the villain was a head government psychiatrist whose goal was to put the entire nation under his 'care'. Sounds like not much has changed . . .

 

[Stella_Omega]

Given how broadly and widely 'mental illness' has been redefined in the past few years that's hardly a surprise. There was a SF story I read once where the villain was a head government psychiatrist whose goal was to put the entire nation under his 'care'. Sounds like not much has changed . . .

Heh. I'm trying to frame some quip about more diagnoses of mental ilness but fewer recourses to deal with it.

But I'm not coming up with anything funny

 

[YoursSINSerely]

We're all a little whacko. Not all of us get to a doctor to document it.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

SO randomly speaking, 20% of you American fuckers are crazy?



How many voted?

Of course the survey did neglect to mention that only those who post it are the 1 in 5.

 

[Huckleman2000]

I don't know - Just because I was never diagnosed before I was 40 doesn't mean that I wasn't a chronic Depressive. Nor that it hasn't been debilitating in some ways.

 

[JackLuis]

Of course the survey did neglect to mention that only those who post it are the 1 in 5.

Zeb you cut me to the quick. Assuming that today world is no more depressing than the 1930's-40-50-60-70-80's or 1990's, for various reasons and wars, it is reasonable to assume that at least 15% have or do suffer from some form of 'dysfunction'.

Imagine if, one of five of your characters displays 'mental illness'. or perhaps you are able to gather 4 afflicted out of five with a vat of Wesson Oil?

That doesn't sound so bad.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Given how broadly and widely 'mental illness' has been redefined in the past few years that's hardly a surprise. There was a SF story I read once where the villain was a head government psychiatrist whose goal was to put the entire nation under his 'care'. Sounds like not much has changed . . .

I really don't believe the percentage, unless the person doing the diagnosing is the person The Bear refers to. People have their little quirks and eccentries, but I especially don't believe it if all these people, 20% of the population have mental illnesses in the range given, which I have bolded.

A survey being released Thursday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 45 million experienced some form of mental illness in 2009, from major depression to more serious problems such as suicide attempts. Fewer than 4 in 10 received treatment for their mental health condition.

 

[squarejohn]

Liberals, Progressives, Socialists, Marxist and Communists surely fit in that category.

 

[mynameisben]

"Four out of five dentists recommend Trident to patients who chew gum."

Finally. I now know what the deal is with that fifth dentist.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I met plenty of 'mentally ill' people who have pretty normal lives. IE, good jobs and relationships. The real mentally ill have neither. So I estimate the cohort is maybe 2% of the total population.

 

[londoner2]

One in five - that reminds me...

Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin.


RIP Tommy Cooper

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin.


RIP Tommy Cooper

Which of you is Chinese?

 

[Liar]

Liberals, Progressives, Socialists, Marxist and Communists surely fit in that category.

Also, people with an obsessive compulsion to turn every damn topic into political snark.

 

[Liar]

Given how broadly and widely 'mental illness' has been redefined in the past few years that's hardly a surprise. There was a SF story I read once where the villain was a head government psychiatrist whose goal was to put the entire nation under his 'care'. Sounds like not much has changed . . .

The sad thing is that I wasn't joking. I know these people, and the numerous prescriptions they're on.

 

[rgraham666]

Given how broadly and widely 'mental illness' has been redefined in the past few years that's hardly a surprise. There was a SF story I read once where the villain was a head government psychiatrist whose goal was to put the entire nation under his 'care'. Sounds like not much has changed . . .

'SQ' by Ursula K. LeGuin.

And it was the whole world. Turned out the guy was crazier than a snake's armpit.

Anyway, sometimes mental illness is a help in getting by in the world. Our society, for example, has little trouble with sociopaths as long as they don't kill anybody.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

'SQ' by Ursula K. LeGuin.

And it was the whole world. Turned out the guy was crazier than a snake's armpit.

Anyway, sometimes mental illness is a help in getting by in the world. Our society, for example, has little trouble with sociopaths as long as they don't kill anybody.

Ah! Thanx, Rob. I think I read that clear back in high school so the details have grown dim in the intervening many years. Yeah, he was!

 

[Boxlicker101]

Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin.


RIP Tommy Cooper

Keep in mind the OP said it was 20% of Americans. Outside of being a character in two stories I wrote, who is Tommy Cooper?

 

[oggbashan]

The statistic for the UK was that one in three adults would suffer from mental illness sometime during their life.

For most that would be situational - caused by an external event such as a bereavement, a divorce, a change or loss of employment, or retiring from employment.

What the statistic didn't say was that many of those suffering from situational mental illness wouldn't seek nor get any treatment.

Og

 

[Boxlicker101]

The statistic for the UK was that one in three adults would suffer from mental illness sometime during their life.

For most that would be situational - caused by an external event such as a bereavement, a divorce, a change or loss of employment, or retiring from employment.

What the statistic didn't say was that many of those suffering from situational mental illness wouldn't seek nor get any treatment.

Og

That seems rather strange. I might have been diagnosed as depressed after my first wife died, which I was, but it wouldn't have been clinical depression, which would be a mental illness.

Personally, I think the main reason psychiatrists make so many diagnoses of mental illness is so they can make a lot of money charging for treatments that are not really needed. Not all shrinks and not all treatments, but a good many of them.

 

[oggbashan]

That seems rather strange. I might have been diagnosed as depressed after my first wife died, which I was, but it wouldn't have been clinical depression, which would be a mental illness.

Personally, I think the main reason psychiatrists make so many diagnoses of mental illness is so they can make a lot of money charging for treatments that are not really needed. Not all shrinks and not all treatments, but a good many of them.

The depression after the death of your wife would probably have been categorised as reactive depression. Most people with reactive depression do not need treatment but effective treatments are available if the depression does not clear up spontaneously in a reasonable time. Reactive depression can affect people severely if the cause is situational and continuing. An example would be working in a job that makes you unhappy and you have no prospect of changing the job. Depression caused by a one-off event can diminish with time but some people do not lose the depression spontaneously.

In the UK most psychiatrists work for the National Health Service and have as many potential patients as they can treat effectively. There is no financial advantage to a psychiatrist in acquiring more patients.

Og

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

That seems rather strange. I might have been diagnosed as depressed after my first wife died, which I was, but it wouldn't have been clinical depression, which would be a mental illness.

Personally, I think the main reason psychiatrists make so many diagnoses of mental illness is so they can make a lot of money charging for treatments that are not really needed. Not all shrinks and not all treatments, but a good many of them.

Its true. Not only is it true but no psychiatrist will accurately diagnoses you if your insurance wont pay for the problem.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Zeb you cut me to the quick. Assuming that today world is no more depressing than the 1930's-40-50-60-70-80's or 1990's, for various reasons and wars, it is reasonable to assume that at least 15% have or do suffer from some form of 'dysfunction'.

Imagine if, one of five of your characters displays 'mental illness'. or perhaps you are able to gather 4 afflicted out of five with a vat of Wesson Oil?

That doesn't sound so bad.

Wesson Oil only brings the sane people...you want crazies you have to use Canola Oil.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The statistic for the UK was that one in three adults would suffer from mental illness sometime during their life.

For most that would be situational - caused by an external event such as a bereavement, a divorce, a change or loss of employment, or retiring from employment.

What the statistic didn't say was that many of those suffering from situational mental illness wouldn't seek nor get any treatment.

Og

The DSM includes codes for life issues, and it includes codes for reactive/situational problems. Theyre not mental illness. Theyre shit happens issues. But insurance wont pay for grief or pissed off or dum. So if youre down because you lost your job or your dog died or your kid is knocked up or you failed a professional license exam, youre screwed. The MD hangs a serious tag around your neck so she can make some money.