The Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50 percent of all Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point during their life. For adults 18 to 44 years old, mental illness is the third leading cause of hospitalization in the country. The toll that mental health disorders can take on an individual can be devastating. The CDC estimates that “adults living with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than others.”
There are over 200 classified types of mental illness. Some of the most common types of mental health disorders listed by the CDC include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Disruptive Behavioral Disorders
- Depression and other mood disorders
- Eating disorders
- Personality disorders
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
- Substance use disorders
The California courts, in an effort to assist those with an underlying mental health disorder, allow for offenders charged with certain crimes to complete a pre-trial diversion program. Not all mental health disorders are eligible for pretrial diversion and the mental illness must have played a “significant role in the commission of the charged offense.”
Qualifying mental disorders include, but are not limited to “bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.” Those suffering from anti-social personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and pedophilia do not qualify for the program. The disorder must be identified in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The offender must present evidence to the court, including a recent diagnosis by a qualified mental health expert, about the disorder.
It is important that if you suffer from a mental health disorder and are charged with a crime you discuss your case with an attorney and seek treatment.