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(Circulation. 2000;101:e66.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.

Circulation Electronic Pages

Nearly Half of Americans With Severe Mental Illness Do Not Seek Treatment

Ruth SoRelle, MPH, Circulation Newswriter

	Introduction

 
Although effective treatment exists, nearly half of all Americans with a severe mental illness do not seek treatment for a variety of reasons, said US Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, when he released the First Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health. "Mental health is fundamental to a person’s overall health, indispensable to personal well being, and instrumental to leading a balanced and productive life," he said.

The report estimated that 1 in 5 Americans suffer from with some form of mental disorder each year. Dr Satcher pointed out that diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, and eating disorders are real illnesses that can be as disabling as cancer and heart disease. These disorders contribute to premature death and lost productivity. Other common mental illnesses are manic-depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and Alzheimer’s disease. These diseases affect millions of Americans each year and contribute to a decreased quality of life.

The report defines mental illnesses and mental disorders as diagnosable conditions that impair thinking, feeling, and behavior and interfere with a person’s capacity to be productive and enjoy relationships. The term "mental health problem" refers to the presence of signs and symptoms that are not intense or long-lasting enough to meet the criteria for a mental disorder. However, severe or mild, long lasting or transitory, these conditions are disabling and painful.

Although 15 percent of the US adult population seeks mental health treatment each year, the mental health system is complex and fragmented, the report states. The system in . . . [Full Text of this Article]