While society continues to embrace the conversation, Americans are struggling with mental illness at record-breaking numbers.
May 16, 2025
Society continues to make strides in understanding and talking about mental illness, in large part because of Mental Health Awareness Month, which is observed every May.
The observance month was founded in 1949 when people with mental illness were deeply misunderstood and mistreated, faced traumatic and ineffective institutionalization, and often abandoned by society.
But mental illness is not just a once-a-year discussion. We see the conversation everywhere, every day. Elite athletes are talking about it in press conferences, lawmakers are passing legislation to help fund mental health initiatives and access to care, and everyday people are sharing their struggles on social media, at work with colleagues, and with their friends and relatives. The stigma is fading, allowing people to share their lived experiences and be empowered to ask for help. And the more people talk about it, the more it reinforces for those struggling that they are not alone.
Mental Illness is on the Rise
However, despite these positive trends, more people are struggling with mental illness than ever before, according to recent findings published this month by Mental Health America.
“More than 5.9 million people worldwide in 2024 took a mental health screening test through Mental Health America’s (MHA) online National Prevention and Screening Program, with 78% of screeners located in the U.S. scoring positive for moderate to severe symptoms of a mental health condition,” the organization announced.
Younger people are also experiencing a mental health crisis, with about 40% under the age of 18 and nearly 50% of youth reporting frequent suicidal ideation.
“Among those under 18 who screened at risk for a mental health condition, 61% cited low self-esteem or self-image while 48% cited body image as a reason for concern,” MHA reported.
Oregon Struggles to Keep up with Need
Here in the Portland metro area, Unity Center for Behavioral Health is helping those in immediate crisis. The 24/7 hospital provides walk-in services for adults in crisis and treats adolescents through referrals.
While Unity Center is an essential resource for Oregonians experiencing a mental health crisis, the state overall is still struggling to help people get access to the care they need, ranking 47th nationwide for its high prevalence of mental illness.
Hospitals across the state, including Legacy Health hospitals, care for patients with behavioral health care needs every day, often seeing patients for much longer periods of time.
An audit released this month by the state urged the Oregon Health Authority to take action to improve its response to the crisis. It identified significant gaps in the state’s data collection system, making it difficult for the Oregon Health Authority and its partners to respond to behavioral health crises. That hurdle, along with several others identified, was reported in the audit, which included several suggested solutions.
Recently, Eckstein, along with Robin Henderson, chief executive of Behavioral Health for Providence Medical Group, and Alicia Beymer, chief administrative officer with PeaceHealth, provided testimony to the Oregon Senate Committee on Health Care. They spoke to lawmakers about the mental health crisis in Oregon and how it is not only impacting patient experience but also bringing strain and moral distress to caregivers throughout the state.
“While awareness for the need to increase access to care is increasing at the local, state and federal levels, the overall behavioral health system in Oregon continues to struggle with the magnitude of need and patients’ acuity levels,” said Melissa Eckstein, president of Unity Center and Behavioral Health Services.
“We want to be very clear – the only reason these patients are in the hospital for such a long period of time is because there is no other place for them to go in our community,” Eckstein testified.
View the full testimony online here, which begins at the one hour, 20 minute mark.
Getting Care at Unity Center
For those who come to Unity Center, they can receive a variety of services during their stay, including counseling and therapy, crisis intervention and stabilization, medication management, peer support, substance use disorder services, care navigation, access to social workers and much more.
“Since opening, Unity Center has become an essential resource in mental health care for those in the Portland metro area and beyond,” Eckstein said. “The care Unity Center staff provide is trauma-informed, compassionate and lifesaving.”
In addition, last year, Unity Center opened its Substance Use Disorder Services, which helps those experiencing acute intoxication and a mental health crisis. More than 50% of the patients Unity Center serves in its psychiatric emergency services department are suffering from a substance use disorder.
Those seeking local resources can reach out to their health care providers or they may want to start with the National Alliance on Mental Illness Oregon (NAMI). The organization can connect individuals to a number of services, including counseling, substance use, resources for families and children, eating disorders, housing, inpatient treatment and more.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 or visit online at 988lifeline.org. Want to know if you may need help? Visit Mental Health America’s online screening website.
– Elizabeth Baker, elbaker@lhs.org