Mental illnesses can be acute or chronic and are diagnosable conditions that affect an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and often their behavior. These conditions include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and mood or personality disorders, among others.

Mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends, or coworkers. One in 5 U.S. adults (20.6%) experience mental illness each year. One in 25 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression each year. More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. Mental health issues have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Average weekly data for June 2020 found that 37.5% of adults in Georgia reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, compared to June 2019, when 11% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder.

Substance use disorder is using illicit drugs or meeting criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse (“pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.”) In recent years, use of opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, or prescription pain relievers has been a major public health crisis. When a person meets the criteria for a substance use disorder and is diagnosed with one or more additional mental health disorders, this is called having co-occurring (COD) psychiatric conditions or a dual diagnosis. Any one of the disorders can arise first and evoke the emergence of the others. When a substance use disorder and a psychiatric disorder co-occur, they may differ in severity, and the severity of each can change over time. People with serious mental illness, particularly those who also have drug and alcohol problems, are more likely to become involved with the criminal justice system than the general population. Approximately 26% of the current Carroll County Jail inmate population has been identified as having a serious mental illness/co-occurring disorder.

Suicide is one of the top ten causes of death in the U.S. and has increased in almost every state over time, making it a serious health concern. Suicide is often linked to underlying mental health conditions, however, other risk factors, such as isolation, relationship struggles, financial or housing insecurity, or physical health issues also contribute to an individual having thoughts of suicide or attempting suicide.