There are several different estimates of how many people have mental illness, but most
of the figures are more or less the same.
We can say for sure that at least one percent of a population is likely to have
a serious and persistent mental illness at any given time. This is equal to about 300,000
Canadians at any given time.
Approximately one out of every five people is likely to be diagnosed with a
mental illness at some time during their entire life. In other words, close to six
million Canadians will have a mental illness during some period in their lives.
The rates of mental illness vary from one illness to another. For example, it is estimated that
- schizophrenia affects about 1% of Canadians,
- mood disorders affect about 10%, and
- anxiety disorders affect about 12%.
Factors affecting mental illness rates
A number of factors affect how many people will have a mental illness. One of these is
the support of family and friends. For example, people who are divorced or separated are
more likely to go through a depression than those who are married. Another factor is
gender. Twice as many females report depression as males.
There is also a link between physical and mental health. It is reported that 25% of
people with serious physical health conditions will develop a major depressive disorder
along with their condition. These other health conditions include diabetes, heart attack,
cancer and stroke.
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