| Statistics
about Mental Illness Who is affected?
- Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some
time through a family member, friend or colleague.
- 20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness
in their lifetime.
- Mental illness affects people of all ages, educational
and income levels, and cultures.
- Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression
at some time in their lives.
- About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder
(or "manic depression").
How common is it?
- Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Canadian population.
- Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population,
causing mild to severe impairment.
- Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year
olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both
men and women from adolescence to middle age.
- The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times
the rate among women.
What causes it?
- A complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality
and environmental factors causes mental illnesses.
- Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered
from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor
about this problem.
- Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses
presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment
but also to acceptance in the community.
- Mental illnesses can be treated effectively.
What is the economic cost?
- The economic cost of mental illnesses in Canada for the
health care system was estimated to be at least $7.9 billion
in 1998 - $4.7 billion in care, and $3.2 billion in disability
and early death.
- An additional $6.3 billion was spent on uninsured mental
health services and time off work for depression and distress
that was not treated by the health care system.
- In 1999, 3.8% of all admissions in general hospitals (1.5
million hospital days) were due to anxiety disorders, bipolar
disorders, schizophrenia, major depression, personality
disorders, eating disorders and suicidal behavior.
Sources: The Report on Mental Illness in Canada, October
2002.
EBIC 1998 (Health Canada 2002), Stephens et al., 2001
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