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Mental Health

Overview

The Surgeon General defines mental illness as "all diagnosable mental disorders" and further defines mental disorders as "health conditions characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning."

"Internalizing disorders" are those that are expressed within an individual, such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. "Externalizing disorders" are those that are expressed overtly, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder. Alcoholism and substance abuse are also characterized as external disorders.

In any given year, approximately 23 million adults in the U.S. will utilize mental health services in the health sector and 11 million will utilize services offered by the private sector (social service agencies, clergy, school counselors, self-help groups, etc.) A recent report by the Surgeon General[1] found that the majority of those who need mental health treatment do not seek it. The report encouraged:

  • continuing to build the science base,
  • improving public awareness of effective treatment,
  • overcoming stigma,
  • ensuring the supply of mental health services and providers,
  • ensuring delivery of state-of-the-art treatments,
  • tailoring treatment to age, gender, race and culture,
  • facilitating entry into treatment, and
  • reducing financial barriers to treatment.

Center Activities

Webcast Series
With funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), the NGA Center will hold three web casts during 2007.


Note:

[1]Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General - Executive Summary; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); 1999.

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