In a poorly lit room, an overwhelming sense of heaviness bears down from every direction. The walls appear to be closing in, each inch of space stifling, as if the air itself thickens. Uncontrollable thoughts race, each one darker than the last, spiraling into a bottomless pit of despair and anxiety. On the nightstand, a bottle of pills beckons as a hasty escape, while the phone remains buzzing, harboring ignored calls and messages from concerned loved ones. It’s a struggle, a silent battle waged behind closed doors, where even the simplest tasks, like getting out of bed, become monumental challenges. This provides a glimpse into the life of someone grappling with mental health issues, a life hidden from many but a grim reality for some.
The narrative above isn’t an isolated incident but a reflection of a global crisis that is escalating at an alarming rate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there’s a rising trend in more than 300 million cases of mental disorders worldwide, with 1 in 8 individuals living with such conditions. The situation is particularly dire in the United States, where over one in five adults, or 57.8 million people, grapple with a mental illness. This prevalence is even higher among females, with 27.2% affected compared to 18.1% of males.
Complicating this complex issue is the prevalence of substance use disorders. In 2021, 19.7 million American adults battled a substance use disorder, making up 7.1% of the adult population. Nearly 74% of these adults struggled with an alcohol use disorder, while approximately 38% faced an illicit drug use disorder. Alarmingly, one out of every eight adults confronted both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously. Further, 8.5 million American adults suffered from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, known as co-occurring disorders.
Suicide, often the tragic outcome of untreated or poorly managed mental health issues, ranks as the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2021 alone, 48,183 lives were lost to suicide, amounting to an age-adjusted rate of 14.04 per 100,000 individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this situation, with a CDC study revealing a 10.5% increase in suicide rates between 2019 and 2020.
The tragedy of mental health issues becomes more poignant through the lives of celebrities we’ve lost – individuals who seemingly possessed everything: fame, success, and wealth. Robin Williams, the beloved comedian and actor, tragically took his own life in 2014 after grappling with severe depression and anxiety. Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park, succumbed to suicide in 2017, despite openly discussing his battles with depression and substance abuse. Avicii, the Swedish DJ and record producer, also died by suicide in 2018 after struggling with mental health issues and the pressures of fame. Anthony Bourdain, the celebrity chef and television host, took his own life in 2018, despite his outwardly adventurous and fulfilling life.
While mental health issues represent a global and national crisis, they also hit close to home within the Indian-American community. Recent statistics reveal that 1 in 5 Indian Americans grapples with mental illness, closely aligning with the national average of 1 in 5 adults. The most common mental illnesses among Indian Americans are anxiety disorders (15.3%), mood disorders (13.6%), and substance use disorders (11.3%). However, what’s particularly concerning is that in 2020, only 38.4% of Indian Americans with mental illness received treatment, compared to 43.7% of white Americans. This disparity underscores the unique challenges faced by Indian Americans, including cultural stigmas and barriers to accessing mental health services.
