This presentation shows segments of the National Alliance on Mental Illness

1. Facts & Statistics about African Americans and Mental Health According to the 2010 US Census Bureau, African Americans make up 12.6% of the US population. The rates of mental illness in this community are similar to non-Hispanic whites. Prevalence rates of depression, anxiety disorder, and phobias are higher among African American women than men. The suicide rate among African Americans ages 10 -14 increased 233%, compared to 120% of comparable non-Hispanics. Exposure to violence increases the risk of developing a mental illness; over 25 percent of African American children exposed to violence meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness