Mental Health in Missouri: Limited Access, Increasing Demand and Tragic Consequences

Mental health disorders are pervasive and often chronic conditions. Nearly 20 percent of all adults in the U.S. and Missouri experience a diagnosable mental health disorder each year, and nearly half will experience a mental health disorder during their lifetime. Seven in 10 Americans experience the physical and emotional symptoms of stress, and fewer than 4 in 10 believe they can adequately manage their stress. Research suggests that mental health disorders are a leading cause of mortality globally, and that significant preventive opportunities exist to limit the global burden of premature death caused by mental health-related diseases and disorders.iv A major contributor to mental health-related mortality is suicide, which has been characterized as an epidemic in the U.S. In 2014, there were 42,773 deaths by suicide in the U.S., making it the 10th leading cause of death among adults and the third leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 24. Suicide costs society more than $44.6 billion in combined medical and work loss costs annually in the U.S.

Missouri data suggest that a cyclical relationship exists between access to mental health services, hospital utilization for mental health disorders and adverse outcomes, such as suicide and suicidal thoughts.

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