Consequences of Non–Treatment

An estimated 8.8 million American adults live with diagnoses of schizophrenia or severe bipolar disorder – just over 3% of the US adult population. About half of these individuals are untreated at any given time, most commonly because they lack insight into their condition.

When untreated, these individuals are at high risk for a number of negative circumstances that profoundly impact them and those around them.

• Homelessness: 30% of the chronically homeless population is estimated to have SMI.
• “Psychiatric boarding:” People in mental health crisis wait for days – even weeks – in ERs because of psychiatric bed shortages.
• Arrest: More than 1.8 million people with SMI are booked into jails every year.
• Incarceration: 20% of jail and prison inmates are estimated to have SMI.
• Victimization: 25% of individuals with mental illness are victimized in some way each year.
• Suicidality: Up to 50% of those with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder attempt suicide, and far more kill themselves than people without these disorders.
• Familial violence: 29% of family homicides are committed by someone with SMI.
• Danger to others: 7% of all homicides, 20% of all law enforcement officer fatalities and up to 50% of mass homicides are associated with SMI.

The human, social and economic impact of not treating serious mental illness is beyond calculation.

Help the Treatment Advocacy Center increase treatment access to help people with SMI avoid the consequences of non-treatment. Make a donation today.