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Serious Mental Illness By The Numbers

Bipolar Disorder, Justice System, Mental Health, My Schiz Life, Psychiatric Hospitals, Schizophrenia, Self-Care, Suicide

Serious Mental Illness By The Numbers:

Prevalence and Treatment Rates*:

~ 8.3 million adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder mental illness (3.3% of the population)+

~ 5.5 million – approximate number with severe bipolar disorder (2.2% of the population), 51% untreated+

~ 2.8 million – approximate number with schizophrenia (1.1% of the population), 40% untreated+

~3.9 million – approximate number untreated in any given year (1.6% of the population)+

Consequences of Non-treatment*:

~ 169,000 homeless people with serious mental illness**

~ 383,000 inmates with mental illness in jails and prisons

~ 50% – estimated percentage of individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar who attempt suicide during their lifetimes

~ 44,193 suicide deaths in 2015

~ 10% – estimated percentage of homicides involving an offender with serious mental illness (approximately 1,425 per year at 2014 homicide rates)

~ 29% – estimated percentage of family homicides associated with serious mental illness

~ 50% – estimated percentage of mass killings associated with serious mental illness

Numbers and percentages of US adults
+National Institute of Mental Health, 2016
**2015 Annual Homeless Assessment Report

Justice system and mental health

Justice System, Mental Health, Mental Illness Treatments, Psychiatric Hospitals

Justice system and mental health:

~ 2 million people with mental illness are newly incarcerated each year.

~ Recent findings show that there are 10 times more individuals with serious mental illness in prisons and jails than in state mental hospitals.

~ 83% of inmates with mental illness did not have access to treatment after release.

~ In a recent outcome study, 64% of inmates with mental illness released from prison were rearrested within 18 months, and 48% were hospitalized within the same time period.

Impact of Mental Illness in the Justice System

Justice System, Mental Health, Stigma

IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

Being incarcerated may be a critical moment for someone with mental illness. The common overlooked or untreated symptoms and behaviors may have led the individual into the justice system. Screening at the moment of intake may make a huge difference in the mental health trajectory of the individual.

2 million people with mental illness are newly incarcerated each year.

Recent findings show that there are 10 times more individuals with serious mental illness in prisons and jails than in state mental hospitals.

Upon release from the justice system, there is inadequate mental health screening. Without proper screening and acknowledgment of mental illness, an individual may not have access to mental healthcare and the necessary resources to afford treatment.

A criminal record will often make it hard for a newly released individual to find employment or housing. As a result, many become homeless, find themselves hospitalized, or are rearrested

Up to 83% of inmates with mental illness did not have access to treatment after release

In a recent outcome study, 64% of inmates with mental illness released from prison were rearrested within 18 months, and 48% were hospitalized within the same time period.

Sources:

National Alliance on Mental Illness. Jailing people with mental illness. 2019. https://www.nami.org/learn-more/public-policy/jailing-people-with-mental-illness.

Torrey EF, Zdanowicz MT, Kennard AD, et al. The treatment of persons with mental illness in prisons and jails: a state survey. Arlington, VA: Treatment Advocacy Center, April 8, 2014.

Al-Rousan T, Rubenstein L, Sieleni B, Deol H, Wallace RB. Inside the nation’s largest mental health institution: a prevalence study in a state prison system. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(342).

Lovell D, Gagliardi GJ, Peterson PD. Recidivism and use of services among persons with mental illness after release from prison. Psychiatr Serv. 2002;53(10):1290-1296.

World Health Organization. Gender and women’s mental health. 2019. https://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/.

Child Mind Institute. 2016 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report. 2016. https://childmind.org/report/2016-childrens-mental-health-report/.