The National Institute of Mental
Health states, "Mental disorders
are common in the United
States and internationally. An
estimated 22.1 percent of Americans ages
18 and older -- about 1 in 5 adults -- suffer
from a diagnosable mental disorder in a
given year. When applied to the 1998 U.S.
Census residential population estimate,
this figure translates to 44.3 million
people. In addition, 4 of the 10 leading
causes of disability in the U.S. and other
developed countries are mental disorders
-- major depression, bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive
disorder. Many people suffer from more
than one mental disorder at a given time."
The impact of mental illness on society
is significant. It is estimated that mental
illness, including suicide, accounts for
over 15 percent of the burden of disease
in established market economies, such
as the United States, this is more than
the disease burden caused by all cancers.
( Source: National Institute of Mental
Health; http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/
statisticsmenu.cfm)
Suicide
For the period 1993 through 2003, there were a total of 43 suicides for a rate of 15.2, compared to Missouri's rate of 12.9. Although suicide rates are an indicator of mental health, another telling indicator is the rate of hospitalizations due to self-inflicted injuries. According to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, hospitalization rates due to self-inflicted injuries are high in Randolph County, particularly for the age groups 15-19 and 20-34, as reflected in the table below.
Children with serious emotional disturbances increased dramatically between 2000 and 2004 in Randolph County.
Local Concerns
This issue was identified by area physicians and hospitals as a growing concern. There is no access to psychiatric care in the county, there are a very limited number of beds for inpatient care, and there is no facility to handle observations. An effort is underway to establish a mental health taxing district in the county, with a goal of placing the initiative on the ballot in April 2007.
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