That's the number of Americans said to be living with one or more mental illnesses, according to some statistics. Of course, that's just the number who have an actual diagnosis, or who admit to having some sort of psychological distress; if one were to factor in everybody who is undiagnosed or in denial, the number would probably rise to one in four or even one in three.
As we all know, nurses are not any less prone to the development of these maladies, as a large segment of our cohort suffers from depression, anxiety, and other mood/personality disorders. Here at AN, there is an open dialogue between members about this topic, which flowered in the days following the Newtown, CT school shootings and continues to be a lively discussion in several threads today. And what that dialogue is showing is that nurses reflect societal trends, in this as well as in other aspects of life, and that we are becoming more willing to admit to our own problems even in the face of the stigma that still exists in our culture.
A growing number of AN members have stepped forward with their stories; now it would be interesting to see the breakdown of which of the more common disorders affects the most people. This poll is NOT scientific, nor will any member's anonymity be compromised by checking a box. You can add your own experiences if you choose; but don't feel obligated to share if you don't wish to.
