6.21.05
Mental Health

A quarter of all Americans have some type of mental illness and less than half of those in need get treatment.

Psychiatric illnesses are affecting people at younger ages than previously thought according to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Half of all psychiatric illness begin by the age of 14 and three quarters begin by age 24. Many people with mental illnesses delay seeking initial treatment says Dr. Stephen Soltys, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.

SOUND BITE: ". . . most people have their illnesses symptomatic for six to eight years before they seek treatment and there is a concern about this because, the longer a psychiatric illness isn’t treated, the more likely it is going to become severe. The more likely that it is going to have impact on an individual's ability to function in work, in social settings, in educational settings."

In the study, anxiety disorders, were the most prevalent overall class of psychiatric disorders. The most common psychiatric illnesses were major depression, alcohol abuse, phobias and fears, and social phobias. Dr. Soltys says it is important to recognize it as an illness and seek treatment.

SOUND BITE: "In some illnesses, medication is required, then the physician would choose the medication that they feel would be most effective. Also psychotherapy is important in many psychiatric illnesses, while many of these illnesses have a biological basis, often times, it's environmental stresses that trigger the illnesses."

Anyone with behavioral disorders or symptoms of mental illness should be seen by a mental health counselor or psychiatrist for evaluation and possible treatment.