Facts About Behavioral Disorders

Facts About Behavioral Health

Anyone can have a mental health condition, regardless of age, gender, race or income.
Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 (National Institute of Mental Health, 2005).
Approximately 20% of American school age children are affected by behavioral disorders (Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, 1999).
Approximately 50% of students with a mental disorder drop out of high school - the highest dropout rate of any disability group (U.S. Department of Education, 2001).
Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth aged 10 to 24 (National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, 2001).
Research shows that 90% of people who die by suicide suffer from a diagnosable and treatable mental illness at the time of their death (Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, 1999).
70% of youth involved in state and local juvenile justice systems suffer from mental disorders (Blueprint for Change, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, 2006).
One in four families will have a member with a behavioral disorder (United States Department of Health and Human Services).
60% of children who suffer from behavioral disorders have parents that possess a related behavioral disorder (Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, 1999).

Among child and adolescents each day:

10 die from firearms
4,342 are arrested (186 for violent crimes)
2,911 drop out of school
17,297 are suspended from school
2,474 are abused or neglected
3,300 run away from home
7,700 become sexually active
(Forehand & Long, Parenting the Strong-Willed Child)