The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has stated that it was the largest and most comprehensive study to estimate the prevalence of mental health conditions in the US population. The report was published in the NIMH journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

The report states that nearly one in five Americans has a serious mental illness. This makes it the most common of all illnesses among the population.

The report is based on the analysis of the data collected in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). It was released in April 2017.

Here are the findings of the study:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

It is the most common mental health disorder, and it is also the most disabling one. About 20 percent of the population in the US suffers from this mental health condition. According to the survey, about 3.5 million Americans have this mental health disorder.

Bipolar Disorder:

It is the second most common mental health disorder in the US. More than 1.2 million Americans have this mental disorder.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:

It is the third most common mental health disorder in the US. It is diagnosed in nearly 5 percent of the population.

Alcohol Use Disorder:

About 14.7 percent of the population in the US have this mental health disorder.

Suicide:

About two million people in the US commit suicide annually.

The report states that people living in rural areas and those with lower incomes are at a higher risk of mental health disorders.

The report also suggests that women are more prone to depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol use disorder.

On the contrary, men are more likely to have major depressive disorder.

In addition, the report also found that people with a college education and an income of $50,000 or above are less likely to suffer from depression.

According to the report, people with a high school education or below are more prone to suicide.

Another interesting finding of the study is that the most common mental health disorders occur in the age group of 25-54.

Conclusion:

Though the study is based on the data collected in the last two years, the findings are still important to the mental health community. There is much work to be done regarding mental health issues in the US. If people realize the importance of these mental health conditions, they can prevent them from happening.

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