In the Blogs: Some Statistics That May Show Mental Illness Touches More People Than You Might Think

By Lindsay Holmes for The Huffington Post 

Whether you're aware of it or not, chances are you know someone who has been personally affected by a mental health disorder.

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and other mental health disorders are growing in numbers.

And while mental illness is starting to be considered the serious medical condition that it is, when it comes to healthcare, we still have a long way to go before mental health patients are treated with the respect afforded physical health patients. Research shows there's still stigma surrounding these disorders.

Below are some statistics that show these disorders touch more people than you might think.

61,500,000 - The approximate number of Americans who experience a mental health disorder in a given year. That's one in four adults.

$100,000,000,000 - The estimated economic cost of untreated mental illness in the U.S. This includes unemployment, unnecessary disability, substance abuse and more.

70 - 90% - The percentage of individuals with mental illness who saw improvement in their symptoms and quality of life after participating in some form of treatment.

800,000 - The estimated number of people globally who die by suicide each year.

25% - The approximate amount of people with a mental illness who feel that others are not compassionate or understanding toward those suffering from one of the disorders.

350,000,000 - The number of people worldwide who are affected by depression.

79% - The percentage of suicides that are completed by men.

40,000,000 - The number of adults who suffer from anxiety disorders in the U.S.

30% - The number of college students who reported feeling depressed to the point where it negatively impacted their ability to function. Approximately 7.5 percent of college students also reported earlier this year that they seriously considered suicide in the last 12 months.

22 - The (potentially underestimated) number of veterans who die by suicide each day, according to a 2013 report by researchers at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

10% - The percentage of children and adolescents whose mental and emotional disorders disrupt their day-to-day lives.

3,500,000 - The number of Americans who suffer from schizophrenia. The disorder usually develops between ages 16 to 25.

60% - The percentage of adults who didn't receive mental health treatment in 2012.

6,100,000 - The number of individuals in the U.S. who suffer from some form of bipolar disorder.

21% - The percentage of mothers polled in a recent BabyCenter survey who stated they have been diagnosed with postpartum depression. Approximately 40 percent of them did not seek medical treatment.

5,200,000 - The estimated number of adults who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder in a given year.

7 - The number of people who die by suicide per hour in the Americas.

11% - The percentage of adolescents who have a depressive disorder before the age of 18.

90% -The percentage of people who die by suicide who also had a mental health disorder.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated 31 percent of college students have considered suicide, when it is 7.5 percent. The statistic has been updated.

Need help? In the US, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.