Mental Health Fast Facts

Mental Health Fast Facts These numbers are only a few of the reasons why it’s important to take part in promoting our awareness events. Please use these facts and others, including the infographics on our website, nami.org/MHStats, to encourage discussions with your community, whether through social media or other forms of outreach.

Individual Impact

• 20.6% of U.S. adults (51.5 million people) experienced mental illness in 2019, but only 43.8% of them received treatment.*

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, but less than half get treatment.

• 5.2% of U.S. adults (13.1 million people) experienced serious mental illness in 2019, but only 65.5% of them received treatment.*

1 in 20 U.S. adults experiences a serious mental illness each year, but less than two-thirds get treatment.*

• 16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6–17 (7.7 million people) experienced a mental health disorder in 2016, but only 50.6% of them received treatment.

1 in 6 U.S. youth experience a mental health condition each year, but only half get treatment.

• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–34 and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.

• The overall suicide rate in the U.S. has increased by 35% since 1999