Mental Health and Mental Disorders: A Rural Challenge
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Mental illness renders a substantial burden of disease in the U.S. In fact, the disease burden resulting from mental illness is among the highest of all diseases. According to estimates from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 45 million of U.S. adults, that is, about one in five adults, had a mental illness in 2009. Mental disorders are often associated with significant impairment and disability. Moreover, the financial costs associated with mental illness are quite substantial. It is estimated that mental illness costs the U.S. at least $300 billion annually, with disability benefit payments of about $24 billion, health care expenditures of $100 billion, and lost earnings and wages of approximately $193 billion. Despite the prevalence and significant costs associated with mental illness, there generally remains a lack of mental health services for individuals that need them. This is also especially true for residents of rural areas.