Depression, Anxiety, Bi–polar disorder, and schizophrenia are all common mental illnesses that can be treated to provide a better quality
of life.
In an effort to bring better awareness of these often debilitating conditions, health officials have declared today "World Mental Health Day".
LeAnn Wallace reports.
"The world health organization has projected that by the year 2025, depression is going to be the second leading cause of disability in the world."
One of every four people across the globe will experience a mental illness during their lives that would benefit from diagnosis and treatment.
Health experts say untreated mental illness is a serious problem with staggering consequences.
Health officials say people who don't seek help often experience unnecessary disability, unemployment, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and sometimes even suicide.
The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100–billion dollars a year.
Experts say that's a huge price to pay for something that can be treated.
The biggest mistake that people tell us they make is that they waited too long to talk to somebody about it and they kept waiting for things to get better."
During this time of nationwide economic hardship, a new poll confirms the growing depth of anxiety Minnesotans are feeling.
"I think we expect anytime there's a major stress in our communities and in society, we expect that to be one of the factors that raises the rate of depression or anxiety disorders."
Doctor Steve Sutherland says talking with friends and family or a primary physician can help determine if you or someone you know has a mental illness.
"A quick and confidential way to check whether symptoms are at a level that would benefit from some sort of treatment, you can visit www.humandevelopmentcenter.org and take their free screening survey."
In Duluth, LeAnn Wallace, the Northlands News Center.
Congress recently passed the "Mental Health Parity Act", which forces health care policies to add mental health conditions to their coverage.
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