Campaign for America's Mental Health

Mental Health America’s Campaign for America's Mental Health works nationally and locally to raise awareness that mental illnesses are common, real and treatable and to ensure that those most at-risk for depression and anxiety disorders receive proper, timely and effective treatment.

Through public education and outreach to primary care providers, the Campaign seeks to increase the number of Americans who receive treatment for mental illnesses and to improve the manner in which mental illnesses are detected and treated in primary care settings.

Campaign highlights:

• National program with 10 year track record helping Americans recognize mental illnesses, get needed treatment and resume productive, fulfilling lives
  
• Millions educated and screened annually
  
• Hundreds of millions of media impressions generated yearly
  
• Nationally recognized resource center
  
• 60 sites in major media markets
  

Our Challenge:

• One in every four Americans experiences a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, but only half seek treatment.
  
• Depression and anxiety disorders—the most prevalent mental illnesses—are each estimated to affect more than 19 million people every year.
  
• According to the historic U.S. Surgeon General's report on mental health, major depressive disorders account for about 20 percent – 35 percent of all deaths by suicide.
  
• Up to half of all patients seen every day by primary care providers suffer from a mental illness, most often depression.
  
• Currently, clinical depression is one of America's most costly medical illnesses, resulting in economic losses due to absenteeism from work, lost productivity and direct treatment costs.
  
• By 2020, the World Health Organization estimates that depression will be the second leading cause of premature death or disability worldwide.
  

View List of Campaign Directors