Stigma stops sufferers from seeking—or receiving—care.
Stigma surrounds two growing public health problems in the United States: substance use disorder and suicide. In this episode of “Mental Health in America,” Sheri Doyle, who leads Pew’s substance use prevention and treatment initiative, and Allison Corr, from Pew’s suicide risk reduction project, discuss the rise in these disorders.
Only 8% of U.S. hospitals follow recommended procedures for suicide care.
In 2022, suicide claimed the lives of an estimated 49,449 people in the United States, making it the 11th leading cause of death nationwide. Research has shown that almost half of those who die by suicide interact with the health care system within four weeks of their deaths. And those who are hospitalized for suicide risk face an elevated risk of dying by suicide post-discharge, making this a critical time for these patients to have access to resources, support, and care that can keep them safe in the event of a suicidal crisis.
Even as attention increases on the state of the nation’s mental health, misconceptions persist, often contributing to stigma. Myths about mental health can cause real harm, affecting those who suffer, preventing progress on policy improvements, and even misleading those who wish to help those in need.
Localities seeking to rethink the way they handle behavioral health crises also face a variety of barriers, from developing and financing these enhanced approaches to tracking outcomes.
Young people [contacting a crisis hotline] seem to perceive a level of confidentiality in text or chat...
On July 14, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became reachable through a short, three-digit dialing code: 988. The easy-to-remember number is designed to ensure that people experiencing suicidal crises and behavioral health emergencies can get quick and simple access to care.
You've seen stats that showed the depth of America's mental health concerns. In the second of our four-part Mental Health Awareness Month series, we're focusing on contributing factors—starting with stigma.
People in America have long grappled with mental health conditions and substance use, and for many individuals, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues. The numbers are stark: In 2021, nearly 1 in 4 adults had a mental illness; nearly 1 in 3 adults had a substance use disorder or mental illness; and more than 12 million adults had serious thoughts of suicide.
The Pew Charitable Trusts conducts research and supports policies to improve behavioral health in America, including increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder, making suicide screening a routine part of health care delivery, and improving crisis care in communities so people in distress can have access to health-focused treatment instead of the first response coming from law enforcement.
Stigma stops sufferers from seeking—or receiving—care.
Stigma surrounds two growing public health problems in the United States: substance use disorder and suicide. In this episode of “Mental Health in America,” Sheri Doyle, who leads Pew’s substance use prevention and treatment initiative, and Allison Corr, from Pew’s suicide risk reduction project, discuss the rise in these disorders.
Only 8% of U.S. hospitals follow recommended procedures for suicide care.
In 2022, suicide claimed the lives of an estimated 49,449 people in the United States, making it the 11th leading cause of death nationwide. Research has shown that almost half of those who die by suicide interact with the health care system within four weeks of their deaths. And those who are hospitalized for suicide risk face an elevated risk of dying by suicide post-discharge, making this a critical time for these patients to have access to resources, support, and care that can keep them safe in the event of a suicidal crisis.
Even as attention increases on the state of the nation’s mental health, misconceptions persist, often contributing to stigma. Myths about mental health can cause real harm, affecting those who suffer, preventing progress on policy improvements, and even misleading those who wish to help those in need.
Localities seeking to rethink the way they handle behavioral health crises also face a variety of barriers, from developing and financing these enhanced approaches to tracking outcomes.
Young people [contacting a crisis hotline] seem to perceive a level of confidentiality in text or chat...
On July 14, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became reachable through a short, three-digit dialing code: 988. The easy-to-remember number is designed to ensure that people experiencing suicidal crises and behavioral health emergencies can get quick and simple access to care.
You've seen stats that showed the depth of America's mental health concerns. In the second of our four-part Mental Health Awareness Month series, we're focusing on contributing factors—starting with stigma.
Suicide is a growing public health problem in the United States. Provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that more than 49,000 people died by suicide in 2022—the highest number of suicide deaths ever recorded in...
Substance use disorders and the harms associated with these diseases are a serious, growing public health problem. Nearly 48,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose in 2017. Pew develops and supports policies that would reduce the inappropriate...
More than 2 million people with mental health conditions—including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and severe depression—are jailed each year, often for misdemeanor crimes. Three-quarters of these individuals have co-occurring substance use...
