| Topic: |
Sociology > Depression |
| User: |
"Millie and Mollies dad" |
| Date: |
08 Jun 2005 07:22:12 AM |
| Object: |
Mental illness will hit half in U.S., study says |
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/06/07/MNGB3D4N3K1.DTL
'Mental illness will hit half in U.S., study says
Disorders often start in young people and go untreated for years -- care
usually poor
A once-in-a-decade survey of the mental health of Americans has found
that disabling mental illness is as common as such chronic diseases as
heart disease and cancer -- but strikes people at a much younger age,
with more lasting impact on their lives.
About half of Americans will develop a mental disorder at some time in
their lives, the survey of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults found -- with half
of those cases starting by age 14, and three-quarters by age 24.
"Mental disorders are really the most important chronic conditions of
youth in America," said Ronald Kessler, a Harvard Medical School
epidemiologist and one of the study's leaders. "Sadly ... these early
onset disorders very seldom come to the attention of the treatment
system unless they're very severe."
He said the study underscores the need for early detection and treatment.
Many cases begin with mild symptoms, such as low-level anxiety or
persistent shyness. Left untreated, however, they can escalate into more
serious depression, disabling phobias or clinical anxiety, with
debilitating consequences later in life.
Yet most Americans take years, even decades, to seek treatment -- 9 to
23 years for anxiety disorders -- if they seek treatment at all, the
survey found. Moreover, when they do, only about 1 in 3 receives
treatment in any given year that meets minimum standards of care, the
survey found.
[...]'
--
- millipede man, with millie and mollie
.
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