Mental health means something to everyone. For many, it means minding stress levels and finding a healthy balance between work and home. For those suffering from mental disorders, mental health means learning to manage and overcome their illness. Regardless of what mental health means to individuals, the attention paid to mental health and mental illness is disproportionate to the attention devoted to physical health. Taken collectively, mental illness is the most prevalent health problem in America today.
Mental illness is more common than cancer, lung, and heart disease combined.
Ironically, mental illness is less regarded and receives fewer resources than most physical health problems. Estimates of the number of children who have mental disorders range from 7.7 million to 12.8 million. These youth are estimated to have severe emotional or behavioral problems that significantly interfere with their daily functioning. Less than one-third of the children under age 18 with a serious emotional disturbance receive mental health services. Often, the services are inappropriate.