Mental Health in America: Test Your Awareness with This Quiz
Recent studies have shown a significant increase in Americans reporting mental health disorders. See how “in the know” you are with this general knowledge quiz.
Photo: ink drop, Adobe Stock
October 10 is World Mental Health Day, launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
Since the pandemic, the landscape of mental health has changed drastically, impacting how hospital, university, and K-12 employees offer support to patients, students, and staff. Employees at these institutions regularly work or interact with both adolescents and adults who are struggling with their mental health — all while many are dealing with similar struggles themselves.
In honor of World Mental Health Day, we put together this general knowledge quiz to give insight into the prevalence of mental health issues in the United States and those most prone to being diagnosed with a disorder. In 2017, we posted a similar quiz but the numbers have since largely increased, so we thought it was time to take another look at how things have changed.
Take the Quiz
Whether one study attributes the increase to the pandemic or another attributes it to people being more open about their mental health struggles, updated statistics show that a large percentage of our population is living with a mental illness and many are not receiving the necessary support. In Oct. 2021, several groups declared a national state of emergency in child and adolescent mental health. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends at least one counselor for every 250 students, however, the national average is 444 students per counselor.
Teachers are being impacted as well. In February of this year, a survey from the National Education Association (NEA) found 55% of educators want to leave teaching early due to burnout over massive labor shortages. Some studies have even found burnout symptoms can resemble that of depression.
According to a nationwide survey of nearly 1,200 college students by TimelyMD, 69% of students reported experiencing mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
A study published in April in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic suffered from the same type of trauma as combat veterans. The study found soldiers who experienced combat and healthcare workers who treated patients with COVID both experienced potential mortal injury (PMI), a form of post-traumatic stress.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and may need support, contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
About the Author
Amy Rock, Senior Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Senior Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
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Hi, Great article!
I’m really enjoying reading your posts. This is well worth a read. You presented great insight and information.
Thanks.
Yea although it was sad it’s good to have tips to prevent it