Mental Illness Awareness Week
October 3-9, 2004

Description
Purpose
Definition
Incidence
What to Do

What is Mental Illness Awareness Week?

Mental Illness Awareness Week is an annual national observance that a 1986 presidential proclamation created to recognize “the urgent need to educate the American public about mental illnesses and their treatments.” This year’s theme, “Unity Through Diversity,” continues to reflect that goal as contained in the vision of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health—to foster a mental health care system that reflects the rich diversity of our Nation and encourages real possibilities of reclaimed lives for all people with mental illness, in communities across the country. This annual observance provides another opportunity to evoke change in the Nation’s mental health service delivery system through education, grassroots commitment, and action. Activities during Mental Illness Awareness Week involve the media, schools, libraries, faith community, local health agencies and associations, and State capitols. This event is sponsored by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).
Back to top

What is the purpose of the observance?

The goal of the observance is to educate the public about mental illness and to reduce the stigma that motivates society to discriminate against people with mental illness. As stated in the U.S. Surgeon General's 1999 landmark report on mental health, the stigma associated with mental illness often prevents people from seeking treatment due to fear of ridicule and rejection. This observance encourages people with mental illness and their families to seek treatment for mental health problems with the same urgency as they seek treatment for physical health problems. It also provides a national platform to educate health care providers and the general public about the stigma and resulting negative consequences that surround mental illness.
Back to top

What is mental illness?

Mental illness is any diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that interferes with or limits a person's ability to live, work, learn, and participate fully in his or her community. Mental illness includes disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and Alzheimer's disease. Mental illness involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person thinks, eats, sleeps, and feels about him- or herself. Mental illness is not a sign of personal weakness or lack of willpower. People with a mental illness cannot simply overcome it and get better on their own.
Back to top

How many people are affected by mental illness?

The U.S. Surgeon General's report on mental health states that about one in five Americans experiences a mental disorder in the course of a year. As a result, millions of adults and children are disabled by mental illness every year. According to the World Health Organization, mental illness ranks first among illnesses that cause disability in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report recently cited suicide as the fifth leading cause of death overall in China. Mental illness affects all people-from every cultural, racial, and ethnic background. A mental illness can occur at any stage of life, from childhood to old age. No community, school, or workplace is untouched by mental illness.
Back to top

What can be done about mental illness?

Mental illness is treatable, especially when treatment is not delayed. For persons of any age, early detection and treatment can help prevent mental illness from worsening and can improve the individual's chances for full recovery. Therefore, it is critical for a person to seek mental health care when he or she needs it. It is equally important for service providers, friends, and family members to be informed about the symptoms of mental illness and the treatment options available. For more information and resources, http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/consumersurvivor/default.asp.
Back to top