According to www.nami.org as qtd. by www.nihm.nih.gov as of 2015;
- Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year.
- Approximately 1 in 25 adults in the U.S.—9.8 million, or 4.0%—experiences a serious mental illness in a given year that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.
- Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%.
- 1.1% of adults in the U.S. live with schizophrenia.
- 2.6% of adults in the U.S. live with bipolar disorder.
- 6.9% of adults in the U.S.—16 million—had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.6
- 18.1% of adults in the U.S. experienced an anxiety disorder such as posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobias.
When we see these numbers we can’t help but feel a sense of urgency in wanting to educate our community about Mental Health and the stigma that is unfortunately attached. This was something that everyone in attendance at this year’s NAMI walk had in common and it was our pleasure at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital to be a part of that walk held on October 14th 2017 at Riverwalk Park. The day was full of games, prizes, information, fun and excitement as everyone rallied together in solidarity of Mental Health Awareness. There were contests for the best four-legged costume, best team t-shirt, best human costume and so much more. With the theme being that of Star Wars, characters walked throughout the event stopping for photo opportunities with everyone in attendance and reminding us that “The Force is With Us” in this battle towards acceptance and understanding. It was truly a wonderful event where our community was able to stand united to try and stop the stigma attached to mental health and bring about education all while having a great time. We are already planning for and looking forward to next year's walk!!
