Mental Health in Focus: Prevalence, Treatment, Stigma & Self-Care Strategies
Okay. So, you know how the world just feels
like it’s overflowing with information? Oh, absolutely. Constant streams. Yeah. Exactly.
And it’s tough to cut through that noise to really get informed without feeling, you know,
completely swamped. Mhm. So, that’s what we try to do here on the deep dive. And today, we’re
taking a really close look at mental health in America. Really important topic right now.
Definitely. We’re drawing from three key sources. the 2024 state of mental health in America
report. That’s the big one from MHA. Right. Also, a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention
and a guide to reducing behavioral health disorder stigma. Yeah. And our goal here for you listening
is really to weave these together. We want to help you get a solid understanding of um the current
needs, the access issues, pinpoint the big challenges we’re up against, and then explore
some of the solutions, especially looking at stigma reduction and uh better systemic support.
So, let’s jump right into that MHA report, the 2024 one. What’s it actually trying to do? What’s
it measuring this year? Okay, so the MHA report, its main goals are well, first to give a clear
snapshot. Think of it like a picture of where things stand right now. Mostly for policy and
planning. Okay. Snapshot. Got it. Yeah. And then it aims to track changes over time, understand
how policies might be working or not working, and really just to get people talking more,
improve outcomes. They’re pretty strict about the data they use. How so? Well, it has to be publicly
available, current, cover all 50 states plus DC, include both adults and youth, capture the
whole mental health system, and importantly, let them track it year-over-year. Right. So, what
key things did they look at for 2024? So, the big ones include adults with any mental illness or
AMI, youth with at least one major depressive episode, MDE. Okay. Uh substance use disorder SUD
for both adults and youth. And they added some new things this year, too, like youth flourishing,
which is interesting. We’ll come back to that. And adults with SUD who needed treatment but didn’t
get it. A crucial gap measure. Now, you mentioned something really important before we started
this 2024 report. It’s not quite like the others. It’s more of a snapshot. Exactly. This is super
critical context. Basically, the pandemic, CO 19, it really changed how national surveys collected
data starting in 2020. How did it change? Well, they used to be mostly in-person interviews. But
from 2020, federal agencies started using online questionnaires too. Ah, okay. And that mix of web
and in person creates what researchers call a mode effect. It means the way people answer might be
different depending on how they’re asked. So the numbers aren’t directly comparable. Precisely. You
can’t reliably compare the 2024 numbers which use this mixed mode data directly with the pre2021
numbers that were mostly in person. It’s like a reset on the trend line. That’s a perfect way to
put it. It’s a trend break. We have to see this year’s data as a really important standalone
snapshot and not just the next point on an old graph. It changes how we interpret everything.
Okay, that’s really crucial context. Thanks. So, shifting then, focusing on that snapshot. Yeah,
let’s talk about youth. The numbers here get well, pretty sobering. They really do. The report found
20.17%. I mean, that’s almost one in five kids aged 1217 had at least one major depressive
episode in the past year. One in five. That’s staggering. And for 15% of those kids, it caused
severe impairment like trouble functioning dayto-day. at school, you know. And if you look
at the uh the 2021 youth risk behavior survey, the YRBS, it found 42% of high schoolers felt
persistently sad or hopeless. It paints a bigger picture, a very worrying picture. And then there’s
the treatment gap. Nearly 3 million young people with MDE didn’t get any treatment. 3 million?
Yeah. And even for those who did get treatment, only about what 57.2% said it actually helped
them. O, that effectiveness number is tough, too, right? And it varies a lot by state. like DC
was around 16% but Oregon was almost 25% for youth MDE prevalence. And connecting back to that YRBS
data from 2021, there’s a really stark disparity we need to highlight. It showed that 45% of LGBTQ
plus high school students seriously considered attempting suicide. 45%. Wow. Compared to compared
to 15% of heterosexual students, that’s a massive difference and really underscores, you know,
the disproportionate risk certain groups face. Absolutely crucial to remember that disparity.
Okay, let’s shift focus to adults. Substance use disorder, SUD, you mentioned that measure.
Yes. The report shows quite a range there too, right? Like Utah at about 14% prevalence.
California closer to 20%. That’s right. Significant numbers across the board. And um
just to add another layer of severity here, 2022 saw the highest number of deaths by suicide
ever recorded in the US ever. That’s that’s a deeply concerning statistic. It is. It represents
a profound loss and highlights the urgency of the crisis. So you have all these people struggling,
youth and adults, but then trying to find help. The report mentions this ratio, 340 people
for every one mental health provider in the country. Yeah, that number is just it jumps off
the page, doesn’t it? It really does. What does that practically mean for someone looking for
care? It means huge waiting lists. It means maybe the only provider who takes your insurance
is booked for 6 months. It means limited choices, maybe no choices in some areas, especially rural
ones. It’s a fundamental access crisis. And what about the reasons people don’t get treatment,
especially for SUDD? The report digs into that. And the reasons are, well, complex. The biggest
one, a staggering 75.4% of adults with SED who needed treatment thought they should handle it on
their own. Wow, that sounds like stigma playing a role there. Absolutely. Internalized stigma, maybe
societal pressure. Then you have 58.6% 6% saying they weren’t ready to start treatment. Cost is
huge, too. 47.7% and almost the same number, 47.3% just didn’t know where to go for help.
Just basic navigation issues. Exactly. And then there’s the insurance piece. People needing
behavioral health care go out of network way more often than for physical health. Like 10.6 times
more often for psychologists. One time. Yeah. 8.9 times for psychiatrists compared to medical
doctors. And a big reason for that is often lower reimbursement rates for mental health providers
which pushes them out of insurance networks just to make a living. That’s a systemic problem right
there. Okay. So the picture is challenging but you mentioned something earlier. Youth flourishing.
Tell me about that. It sounds like a positive indicator. It is and it’s really important. It’s
a shift away from only looking at deficits or illness. Right. Youth flourishing measures things
like curiosity, resilience, self-regulation, kind of the building blocks of positive mental
health. So, how are kids doing on that measure? Nationally, the average is about 60.5% of youth
meeting all three criteria. It varies, of course. Georgia was highest around 67%. Kentucky lowest
around 54%. But measuring this helps us understand not just the absence of problems, but the presence
of strengths. It’s about proactively building well-being which could be protective. That’s a
great perspective. Okay. So, we have the data, the challenge is the access issues, but underlying
so much of this, as you hinted, is stigma. Mhm. It’s like this huge invisible barrier. How does
the anti-stigma guide define it? What does it feel like? The guide calls it a roadblock on
the journey of recovery. It makes people feel powerless, angry, frustrated, and it breaks it
down into a few types. Okay? There’s internalized stigma. That’s when someone starts believing the
negative stereotypes about themselves, thinking, you know, I’m worthless or this is my fault.
Right. Turning it inward. Exactly. Then there’s external stigma which can come from different
places even sometimes within the recovery community itself like judging someone’s path maybe
medication versus abstinence. Interesting within the community. Yeah. And then there’s stigma from
treatment providers or medical professionals. Maybe biases, lack of education, belief that
treatment doesn’t really work that affects the care people get. That’s worrying. Definitely. And
finally, systemic stigma. This is discrimination baked into systems like criminal justice,
social services leading to denial of housing, jobs, proper treatment. So, it’s everywhere
pretty much. And the bigger picture effect, it erodess confidence that mental health
conditions are actually treatable like any other health condition. How does that play out?
Well, it directly stops people from seeking help. Fear of judgment, fear their boss will find out,
fear of confidentiality breaches. And maybe more insidiously, it gives this kind of unspoken
permission for insurers to limit coverage for mental health in ways they’d never get away
with for say heart disease. That’s a powerful connection. And the MHA report points to other
systemic issues too, right? Like in rural areas. Yes, absolutely. Rural communities often face a
double whammy. Higher poverty rates and much less access to preventative care and providers and
schools. Schools are struggling too. The report mentioned significant staffing issues in 2022 like
45% of schools reporting vacancies for special education staff and 78% saying they had trouble
hiring that staff. That directly impacts kids who need support. Right. And you mentioned earlier how
some policies, even maybe well-intentioned ones, can backfire. Yeah, that’s an important point.
The report touches on how policies pushing for involuntary hospitalization, for example, okay,
can actually make people less likely to seek help voluntarily when they feel a crisis coming on. In
2022, almost a quarter of adults with any mental illness and 45% nearly half of youth with MDE who
didn’t get care cited fear of hospitalization or involuntary treatment as a reason. Wow, that’s
a huge percentage for youth. It is. It suggests maybe resources could be better used focusing
upstream on prevention and accessible voluntary care rather than solely on crisis response and
forced treatment, which clearly scares people away. Okay, so the challenges, the barriers,
including stigma and system issues are really clear, but let’s pivot towards solutions.
What concrete steps are being talked about? You mentioned a comprehensive approach. Exactly.
No single magic bullet. It requires attacking the problem from multiple angles simultaneously.
The suicide prevention guide outlines nine key strategies and some are really promising.
But what? Give us some examples. Okay, so one is enhancing life skills and resilience.
Think upstream prevention. Connecticut has this great program called Gizmo’s Pawsum Guide to
Mental Health. Pretty attitude name. It is, but it’s serious stuff for elementary kids. Teaches
coping skills, how to identify trusted adults, build social connection. It’s about equipping
kids early. Building that foundation. Makes sense. What else? Responding effectively to crisis. The
988 suicide and crisis lifeline is a huge step. getting that nationwide 247 access to trained
counselors, referrals, mobile crisis teams when needed. It’s a vital safety net. Yeah, 988 is
critical. Then there’s reducing access to lethal means. This is often sensitive but crucial
for suicide prevention. Maryland’s extreme risk protection order law is an example allowing
temporary removal of firearms if someone showing clear warning signs of danger to self or others.
Okay, a specific policy example. Another big one is promoting social connectedness. We know
isolation is a risk factor. The guide talks about supportive neighborhoods. Sadly, only about
56% of US families felt their kids lived in one in 202122. We need to foster that sense of community.
So important, but hard to legislate. True. But policies can help create the conditions for it
like upstream prevention through economic support. State earned income tax credits, EITC’s, are a
great example. How do they help mental health? by reducing poverty and financial stress on
families, which directly impacts parental stress and improves kids health outcomes. It’s a powerful
lever. Yet, the report notes 15 states still don’t have a state EITC. H missed opportunity there.
Definitely. And finally, addressing housing stability. You can’t focus on recovery if you
don’t know where you’ll sleep. Housing first programs are evidence-based. They prioritize
getting people into stable housing first, then wrap services around them. The VA, the Department
of Veterans Affairs, credits these programs with helping cut veteran homelessness by over half
since 2010. It works. That’s impressive progress. Now, connecting back to that stigma piece, the
anti-stigma guide has this really simple but powerful phrase. Words have power. Language
matters. People first. Yes, it’s fundamental. It sounds simple, but why is it so hard to get
people, even professionals, to consistently use person first language? like saying a person with
schizophrenia instead of a schizophrenic. That’s a great question. I think part of it is just habit
inertia. It’s how terms have been used sometimes for decades. Mhm. Another part might be a lack of
awareness or training on why it matters. It’s not just political correctness. It’s about seeing the
person before the diagnosis. It avoids defining someone by their illness. Right? The toolkit
stresses using accurate non-stigmatizing terms, avoiding sensationalism, not co-opting medical
terms casually like saying someone is addicted to shopping or whatever. Yeah. That dilutes the
meaning. Exactly. Making that conscious shift empowers individuals. It fosters hope and it keeps
the conversation grounded in respect and evidence. So, how do you amplify that message? The guide
talks about media advocacy. How is that different from just like a PSA campaign? Good distinction.
And media advocacy is more strategic. It’s not just about raising general awareness. It’s
about intentionally reframing the public debate. Reframing by shifting the focus from individual
blame or problems to societal issues and systemic solutions, it aims to change collective behavior
and empower the public to actually get involved in policy change. Okay. More actionoriented
definitely. And there are principles for doing it effectively. You need to use data, use
research on communication, social learning theory, things like that. You have to commit to the
long haul. Attitudes don’t change overnight. Frame the narrative around shared responsibility
and solutions, not just doom and gloom. Focus on hope and action. Yes. And critically involve
people with lived experience every step of the way. Designing the campaign, evaluating it.
Their voice is essential. So practically speaking, if a group wants to do this kind of advocacy, what
does the guide suggest? It gets pretty practical. Things like develop a memorable campaign name, a
good logo, create clear, concise fact sheets, easy bullet points. Make it digestible. Exactly. Build
a website. Use social media. Obviously crucial now. Write effective press releases. Remember
the classic who, what, when, where, why. Keep them short, like 250, 300 words. Get to the point,
right? And if you’re doing press conferences or interviews, be accurate. Be prepared. Know your
key messages and stick to them. Stay professional even with tough questions. Solid advice for
any kind of communication really. Absolutely. Wow. Okay. We’ve covered a lot of ground today
from that really crucial data snapshot and the MHA report. The trend break, right? To digging
into the impact of stigma, the systemic barriers like access and workforce shortages. Yeah. and
then exploring these comprehensive strategies, prevention, crisis care, housing, EITC, language,
advocacy. It’s clear the challenges are huge. But you know, there are dedicated people and solid
strategies, working to make things better. Absolutely. And it really highlights that just
knowing facts isn’t enough, right? It’s about deeply understanding the context, thinking
critically, and then figuring out how to apply that knowledge. Yeah. Especially with something
as complex as mental health. So, thinking about our listeners, what does this all mean for
you? We’ve seen the scale of the challenges, but also the strategic efforts underway. It really
makes you think if changing public perception, changing policy, changing the language we use
is so vital, what’s one small immediate shift maybe in your own words, your daily interactions
that could add to that wave of dstigmatization. How could that maybe, just maybe, encourage
someone else to reach out for the help they need?
Explore the multifaceted world of mental health—from national prevalence and treatment access to societal perceptions and personal wellness habits. This video draws on key sources including a state-by-state report on mental health in America, a pediatric guide to self-care techniques like deep breathing and exercise, and expert-backed strategies from the PTTC Network to reduce stigma through affirming language and media advocacy. We also highlight academic insights into the neurobiology of mental illness, the impact of social media, and the holistic benefits of physical activity. Whether you’re a student, professional, or curious viewer, this is your comprehensive guide to understanding and supporting mental well-being in today’s world.
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Disclaimer:
The information provided in this video is for educational and personal information purposes only. Please consult a physician for advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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