The Leading Mental Health Problems in the United States

What Is the Number One Mental Health Condition in the Country?

According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States. Anxiety disorders affect approximately 40 millions adults (18 and older) across the country. This means that over 18% of the population suffers from one of these diagnosable and treatable conditions.

As noted by the ADAA, anxiety disorders are “highly treatable,” yet only a fraction of those with a diagnosable anxiety disorder are ever treated. Their data shows that only 36.9% of those with anxiety disorders receive treatment.

Types of Anxiety Disorders UÏ

There are several types of anxiety disorders including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and Specific Phobias.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affects nearly 7 million adults, less than 44% of those are receiving treatment. It is nearly twice as likely to affect women as compared with men and often is co-occurring with major depression. 

Panic Disorder affects approximately 6 million adults and again women are almost two times more likely to be affected as compared to men.

Social Anxiety Disorder affects around 15 million adults, nearly 7% of the population in the United States. As opposed to Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder affects men and women. 

Many individuals report experiencing symptoms of anxiety disorders well before adulthood. Social Anxiety Disorder generally starts at around 13 years old, while specific phobias can begin much earlier, around 7 years of age. 

Other types of anxiety disorders include stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, and persistent depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder is the “leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 to 44.3.” It is not uncommon for individuals to experience more than one anxiety disorder at the same time.