national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to eliminating legal and other barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness We do not accept funding from hospitals, companies or entities involved in the sale, marketing or distribution of pharmaceutical products. ESTABLISHED 1998 by E. Fuller Torrey, M.D.
are persons: (1) age 18 and over, (2) who currently or at any time during the past year, (3) have a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder (excluding developmental and substance use disorders) of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (4) that has resulted in functional impairment which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities, such as activities of daily living.
adults in America have a serious mental illness. Approximately 40% are untreated on any given day. Women are disproportionately impacted, with 65% or 7.3 million individuals with the illness.
the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. ¡ The coexistence of both a mental health and a substance use disorder is referred to as co-occurring disorders.
later age of onset ¡ Average age of onset for males: early to mid 20s ¡ Average age of onset for females: late 20s bipolar disorder ¡ Women have a later age of onset for ¡ More likely to have onset of disorder with depressive episode ¡ May worsen or cause rapid cycling during certain phases of reproductive cycle
are up to 23 times as likely to be victimized. Women are much more likely to be victimized than men. ¡ Women with SMI are more likely to be recently sexually assaulted than men with SMI. ¡ Women with SMI are much more likely to have been violently attacked or attacked by multiple assailants.
SMI are twice as prevalent as men in state prison populations. ¡ Women who met criteria for a serious mental illness diagnosis made up 32% of the state prison population in 2014. Men with SMI represented 14.5% of the same population.
SMI are twice as likely to have made one suicide attempt and three times as likely to have made two or more attempts as men with SMI. However, women are less likely to die by suicide, making up only ¼ of suicide deaths. Women make up more than half the at-risk adults in nearly every category of suicide risk: having suicidal thoughts (53%), having a suicide plan (58%), attempting suicide (60%). 47,173 suicide deaths in 2017
to ED’s with more severe symptoms, women with SMI are less likely to be admitted to the hospital, and, if admitted, they are hospitalized for shorter time than males with the same disorders.
inmates with SMI are more dangerous to themselves and more likely to be disciplined. ¡ Suicide is leading cause of death in US jails ¡ Incarcerated women die by suicide at rates 20 x higher than general population. Incarcerated men also die by suicide at higher rates than men who are not behind bars, but the rate is only 5 x as high ¡ One study found that more than 50% of incarcerated women have suicidal ideation or attempted suicide at some point in lifetime ¡ Compared with males with SMI, women inmates are reported to have more “acute psychiatric disturbances, including risk of harm to self or others,” “greater perceived stress [and] more disciplinary problems, such as refusal to leave one’s cell” and other negative outcomes.
Women with SMI are on a “fast track” for termination of parental custody. ¡ At least half of women with SMI are mothers of dependent children. ¡ A diagnosis of SMI is consistently found to be associated with increased risk of losing parental custody. ¡ Mothers with SMI are more likely to report negatively about their parenting abilities than fathers, even when fathers are providing a lower quality of care.
serious mental illness are more likely to have a co-occurring substance-use disorder compared to men with serious mental illness ¡ Co-occurring substance use disorders puts women at higher risk of: ¡ criminal justice involvement ¡ homelessness ¡ victimization
SMI have higher risks for serious physical health conditions than men. ¡ Compared with men with SMI, women are: ¡ twice as likely to be obese and more vulnerable to the health risks associated with obesity than men, including ¡ diabetes and ¡ heart disease. Women with SMI also are 30% less likely than other women to be up to date on cancer screening tests including clinical breast exams, mammography and pap smears. Compared with women in the general population, women with SMI are vastly more likely to contract HIV.
SMI feel more stigma and guilt than others. ¡ Mothers with mental illness are almost twice as likely to perceive and internalize stigma associated with their diagnosis than fathers. ¡ The majority of mothers with mental illness feel extreme guilt due to their inability to keep up with motherhood responsibilities and often feel isolated because of the damage mental illness causes to their relationships with others. ¡ Dissolved parent-child bonds are common due to interrupted contact and the loss of custody and visitation rights.
SMI have much higher recidivism rates than men with the same conditions. ¡ Women with SMI cope more poorly in the community after release from prison than men. ¡ As a result, the length of time they spend in the community between release from prison and re-arrest, and incarceration is half as long as it is for men with the same psychiatric conditions.
FFR1.76 AMI = any mental illness; SMI = serious mental illness. Note: Respondents could indicate multiple reasons for not receiving mental health services; thus, these response categories are not mutually exclusive.
and SUD in pregnant women is associated with: ¡ Poor maternal health ¡ Poor perinatal care ¡ Maladaptive fetal growth and development ¡ Poor cognitive development Importance of integrated care and behavioral health screening for prenatal care
be associated with: ¡ Fetal growth restriction ¡ Stillbirth ¡ Preterm birth ¡ May cause problems with neurological development: ¡ Hyperactivity ¡ Poor cognitive function
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