Presents a series of statistics from mental health to baby boomers.
Percentage of people in US to develop a mental disorder during their
lifetime according to National Mental Health Association (NMHA);
Percentage of US eighth graders threatened with a weapon in school,
according to University of Michigan study; Percentage of sexually active
high schoolers dropped from 1989 to 1991, according to Centers for
Disease Control study; More.
By
Bridget Murray, published on March 01, 1993
MENTALLY UNHEALTHY
The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) estimates that about
22% of the U.S. adult population - about 40 million people - will develop
a mental disorder during their lifetime.
An NMHA survey also finds that only 10% of the population think
mental disorders are biologically based. Americans believe instead that
emotional weakness (71%), bad parenting (65%), and sinful behavior (35%)
cause mental instability. Forty-three percent think mental illness is
incurable, while another 43% insist that people bring it on
themselves.
JOHNNY'S GOT A GUN
Nineteen percent of U.S. eighth graders have been threatened with a
weapon in school and 9% have been injured, according to a University of
Michigan study. Forty-four percent have had property stolen, while 34%
report having property vandalized.
Approximately one in seven U.S. schoolkids is either bullied or a
bully, reports the National Association of School Psychologists. In
addition, about 5,200 secondary-school teachers are physically attacked
every month.
TEEN ATTITUDE
From 1989 to 1991, the percentage of sexually active high schoolers
dropped from 59% to 54%, according to a study by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Those who've had two or more sex partners dropped
from 40% to 35%. Those with some AIDS education climbed to 83% from
54%though condom use is still under 50%.
Sixteen percent of American 12- to 18-year-olds smoke and 75% of
them have tried unsuccessfully to quit, according to a study by the
National Health Center for Teen Statistics.
The number of teens who think success means making big bucks is
down 29% from five years ago, says a Teen Research Unlimited
study.
BABY BOOMERS GOING GRAY
By 2020, the Census Bureau expects the number of people over 50 to
increase 76%, while those under 50 are expected to decrease by 1%. Almost
half of elderly women are widowed, compared to 15% of elderly men.
By 2002, the National Center for Education Statistics projects that
in every field except math, more than 30% of college faculty will be over
60.
BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW
Fifty percent of passengers who take public transportation are
annoyed by people wearing heavy perfume, according to a poll of 754
adults conducted by C.J. Olson Market Research Inc. Loud talking (49%),
getting too close (48%), crying babies (46%), and bad-smelling people
(46%) are also irritating.
American businesses lose $200 million a year because of poor
handwriting, reports the Writing Instrument Manufacturers
Association.
Over half of U.S. high school seniors can't interpret the results
of science experiments, according to tests conducted by the National
Assessment of Educational Progress.
ILLUSTRATIONS (3): (DAVID ROLFE)
Edited by BRIDGET MURRAY
Compiled by BRIDGET MURRAY
Tags:
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aids education,
centers for disease control and prevention,
condom use,
disease control and prevention,
eighth graders,
emotional weakness,
high schoolers,
human nature,
mental health association,
mental instability,
michigan study,
national association of school psychologists,
national mental health,
national mental health association,
nmha,
schoolkids,
secondary school teachers,
sinful behavior,
statistics
