Mentally ill go it alone Most won't seek help, but those who do should try therapy first

A majority of Americans with mental disorders did not receive professional help in 2010, according to a major government study.

Although about 20 percent of American adults (45.9 million) reported any mental illness in 2010, only 39.2 percent of that group said they got treatment, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report shows.


Mental illness is defined as having had “a diagnosable mental, behavioral or emotional disorder,” such as anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorders.


“People might be afraid they can’t do anything about it and don’t seek help,” says Peter Delany, director of the substance abuse and mental health administration’s center for statistics. “But if we take the view that mental health disorders are like physical health disorders, like diabetes or heart disease, we’d find treatment is
effective. People are going to get better.”

www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120222/LIFE/302220019/Survey-Mentally-ill-go-alone