Episode 33: (RENEGADE TALK RADIO/KINGS OF TALK RADIO-PRESENTS, E.G THE URBAN SCHOLAR GOES IN AND DELIVERS A PROLIFIC SPEECH TO CONCLUDE THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE MENTAL ILLNESS SAGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(A MUST HEAR)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

According to a separate survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, 40% of Americans reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2020 compared to just 11% in 2019. The uncertainty and fear surrounding the pandemic undoubtedly played an enormous role in this increase.  However, it isn’t just symptoms of anxiety and depression that have skyrocketed. In this year’s survey, more than 12 million adults reported serious thoughts of suicide. People have understandably struggled when removed from the stability of friends and family and subjected to new and unusual stressors and we’re seeing that in the data. Untreated Substance Use Disorders. In the absence of care, many people turned to substances like alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism if they could not or would not access treatment. In this year’s survey, almost 11% of adults reported abusing alcohol, while 6.82% reported abusing illicit drugs. Of this combined number, less than 7% are seeking treatment for their substance use disorder.  There are many factors that have contributed to the rise in untreated substance use disorders. These include: Interruptions in harm reduction programsIsolationWorsening economic conditionsGrowing mental health concerns  Unfortunately, the rise in untreated substance use disorders has also contributed to an increase in overdose risk factors, with more than 93,300 overdose deathsoccurring in the United States in 2020.  Difficulties in Accessing Care. One of the most concerning findings from this year’s survey was that while more people are reporting mental health concerns, only 28% were able to find the care they needed. Some of the most common barriers to finding and getting mental health care services include the following: No affordable options, reported by 42% of respondentsLack of awareness about where to go for services, according to 27% of respondentsNo time to get treatment, cited by 19% of respondents  Nationally, that leaves more than 14 million individuals who recognize that they need help, but cannot find the right behavioral healthcare provider or agency. While access to care is challenging across the entirety of the United States, it is much more difficult in Indiana, Nevada, and Arizona, which reported that between 36% and 39% of their population cannot access care.  Worldwide: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of anxiety and depressive disorders grew. Depressive symptoms grew from a base of about 193 million people worldwide to 246 million, which is about 28%. Anxiety disorders grew from about 298 million people affected to 374 million, which is about a 25% increase.Age group: Young adults ages 18 to 25 in the U.S have the highest rate of experiencing mental health conditions (30.6%), followed by those ages 26 to 49 (25.3%) and adults ages 50 and over (14.5%)