The previous article of this series addressed how stress impacts the brain and body on a physical level. This article will examine the prevalence of stress and mental disorders in the U.S. and other countries and the current state of mental health care.
There is a strong link between prolonged stress and mental disorders. The release of stress hormones over an extended period of time interferes not only with mood regulation, but also cognitive processes. That includes memory and decision-making skills. This can be particularly troubling for children when the brain is still developing.
Researchers found that children who lived with high amounts of stress performed poorly on memory tests in relation to kids with normal or low stress levels. Common symptoms that indicate stress are recurring headaches, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, faltering concentration, irritability, social withdrawal and emotional outbursts.
A long term ongoing study conducted by UCLA on college freshmen has shown a marked increase in stress and diminished mental health quality in 2010. Only 52% percent of new freshmen rated with above average emotional health, a sharp decrease from the 64% noted in 1985.
In any given year, estimates show over 26% of the U.S. population (ages 18 or older) suffers from a mental disorder. Almost half of those cases are diagnosed with two or more disorders. It is the leading cause of disability in both the United States and Canada. Statistics from the NIH show over 18% of adults have an anxiety disorder, which is roughly 40 million people.
Due to the current political and economic tensions in the world, mental disorders are at an all-time high in other countries as well. In Canada, an estimated 12% of the population suffers from an anxiety disorder. The UK reports 25% of the country’s population experiences some level of mental health trouble, while depression impacts 1 in 5 adults. Finally, a three year study of countries across the European Union plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland revealed an estimated 164.8 million people suffer from some form of mental disorder. The most common disorder was anxiety, which impacts 14% of the populations, including children. This shows the United States has the highest prevalence of anxiety disorders in relation to other countries, which is linked to long-term stress.
This raises the question of why there is a difference between the U.S. and other developed nations. Do we have a more stressful life in our country, or is it because we have less access to mental health care? The World Health Organization compared how much of the healthcare budget was directed to mental health. About 5.6% percent of the U.S. health budget goes to mental health treatment, while the leading nation, Egypt, spends 9%. The 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed we have fewer mental health professionals than any other type of health professional in the nation. Finally, $1.8 billion was cut from state mental health budgets during the recession.
If stress levels are interfering with your quality of life and ability to cope with daily responsibilities, it is important to know how to locate professional assistance. The Psychology Today website offers a listing of mental health professionals by region. Click here for a listing of therapists in the Toluca Lake/Burbank area.
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