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US Health report: Rate of mental health

Williamsburg Therapy Group discusses depression in blog

A new federal report has been released regarding the country’s progress towards meeting a set of 10-year national health goals that were set in 2010. The report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked into the progress of a set of 10-year goals set as part of the public health ‘Healthy People 2020’ initiative.

The initiative outlined 26 public health areas in need of improvement over the 10 year period, including mental health.

The results paint a bleak picture for mental health in the US with two areas of mental health having alarming rate increases.

Since 2007, the suicide rate has increased, from 11.3 suicides per 100,000 people to 12.6 suicides per 100,000 people in 2013, the report found. The number for the national suicide hotline is 1-800-273-8255.

In addition, the rate of depression in teens has increased, up from 8.3 percent in 2008 to 10.7 percent in 2013. The 2020 is goal is a reduction to 7.5 percent.