Majority of Americans Say Mental Illness Impacts Overall Health, Economy, But Congress Not Acting on Issues

Roughly two-thirds of Americans believe that untreated mental illness has a significant impact on the U.S. economy and that comprehensive mental health reform is important in addressing societal challenges, such as high suicide rates and access to care. At the same time, only 5 percent of Americans believe Congress has made mental health a priority.

The findings are from an APA-sponsored poll conducted by Porter Novelli and the GfK Knowledge Panel, a market research firm, and were announced last month at APA’s 2016 Annual Meeting.

Candidates seeking the White House didn’t score high marks either when Americans were asked which candidate would best ensure that the needs of those living with mental health problems are met. Democrat Hillary Clinton came in first at 21 percent, with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders a close second at 19 percent. About 10 percent said Republican Donald Trump would be the best in meeting the nation’s mental health needs.

APA has endorsed efforts in Congress to reform the nation’s mental health system, voicing its support for the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, introduced by Reps. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), and the Mental Health Reform Act of 2015, introduced by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Legislation in both the House and the Senate has stalled this year.

“We applaud the lawmakers in Congress who recognize the dire need to improve our nation’s mental health system,” said APA President Renȳe Binder, M.D. “But we call upon Congress as a whole to embrace this issue. Our poll findings show that the majority of Americans want to see improved mental health care and access.”

“The fact that a vast majority of Americans, 80 percent, agree that someone’s mental health has an impact on their physical health just shows the need for us to improve the nation’s mental health system,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “It also illustrates the importance of collaborative care between psychiatry and other medical specialties. APA will continue its hard work to make both goals, mental health reform and collaborative care, a reality.”

The poll also found that public perceptions of mental health are improving but still have a way to go. About 45 percent of respondents agree that there is less stigma against mental illness than there was a decade ago; however, 31 percent say they would not vote for a political candidate who was diagnosed with a mental illness, even if the candidate had been treated for it.

Other key findings of the poll:

• Only 15 percent of respondents agree that the mental health needs of military veterans are being met in the current mental health system.

• 80 percent of respondents agree that a person’s mental health has an impact on his or her physical health.

• Nearly 20 percent of respondents have personally sought care from a mental health professional, and 29 percent know a family member who has.

• Nearly 50 percent of respondents say they either do not know or are not sure how to access mental health care for themselves or a loved one.

“It is encouraging to see the progress in reduced stigma of mental illness over time, but the poll clearly shows that we have a long way to go before the majority of Americans view mental illness the same as physical illness,” Binder said. “Mental illness is no different than physical illness. There is help available, and treatment works.” ■