Mental Health Survey results

RESPONDENTS WERE:
36% Male    64% Female   

Ethnicity:
22% White        12% Black      
55% Latino        10% Asian       
9% Other

Living arrangements?
84% Living with parent(s)/adoptive parents
7% Living with relatives   
5% Living with foster parents/in a group home  
0.3% Detention center    
6% Other

Which of the following situations might cause you to seek help?
59% If I experienced physical or sexual assault 
55% If I felt suicidal   
54% If I had a serious drug or alcohol problem
50% If I was failing school      
47% If I suffered a terrible loss, such as the death of a loved one      
46% If I felt depressed  
45% If I felt like I might seriously hurt someone else    
27% If I felt really anxious all the time   
13% No matter what, I probably would not seek help    
(Respondents checked all that applied)

If you’ve had a problem in the past that you kept to yourself and did not seek help, what were the major reasons for that? 
63% Felt I could handle it myself   
48% Was afraid of what my parents or other
family members would think or do 
27% Was afraid of what my friends would think or do   
21% I did reach out for help    
13% Thought I would be a failure if I needed to see a therapist or psychiatrist   
11% Did not know where to go for therapy    
(Respondents checked all that applied)

If you looked for help, where did you look?
68% My friends   
62% My family   
34% Other adults in my life (teachers, counselors, religious leaders, social workers, probation officers)   
16% Therapist/Psychiatrist   
10% Doctor   
7% Other
6% Chat rooms or websites    
3% Hotline  
(Respondents checked all that applied)

How did your friends, family and others treat you when they found out you were having problems?
74% They said they’d be there for me   
25% They encouraged me to get help    
17% They told me to get over it   
13% They didn’t take my problem seriously 
8% They told me I was just trying to get attention   
9% Other
4% They stopped hanging out with me  

Place a check mark next to any of the following statements that YOU agree with:
46% Talking to a friend is better than talking to a therapist   
43% Talking to a parent or family member is
better than talking to a therapist   
27% Taking medication is just an excuse to keep from dealing with your problems   
24% None of the above   
18% You should talk about problems only within the family  
18% Therapy can’t really help you with your problems   
14% It’s OK for other people to have therapists, but not me   
(Respondents checked all that applied)

Place a check mark next to any statements that you feel reflect your PARENTS’ OR GUARDIANS’ beliefs:
46% Talking to a parent or family member is better than talking to a therapist   
41% You should talk about problems only within the family
26% None of the above   
21% Taking medication is just an excuse to keep from dealing with your problems   
19% Talking to a friend is better than talking to a therapist   
19% Therapy can’t really help you with your
problems   
11% It’s OK for other people to have therapists, but not anyone in my family   
(Respondents checked all that applied)

Place a check mark next to any of the following statements that YOU agree with:
77% Mental illness can be caused by circumstances outside the family, such as stress, problems at school, friendships or relationships    
63% Mental illness can be caused by bad
relationships with your parents   
63% Mental illness can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain   
52% Mental illness can be something you inherit   
51% Mental illness can be treated with
medication and therapy   
(Respondents checked all that applied)

Place a check mark next to any statements that you feel reflect your PARENTS’ OR GUARDIANS’ beliefs:
66% Mental illness can be caused by life circumstances outside the family, such as stress, problems at school, friendships or relationships   
57% Mental illness can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain   
54% Mental illness can be caused by bad relationships in the family   
51% Mental illness can be something you inherit   
51% Most mental health problems can be treated with medication and therapy   
(Respondents checked all that applied)

Where do you think you would find the MOST support if you had a problem?
37% Family   
27% Other
21% Friends
7% Other adults (doctors, social workers,
probation staff, group home staff, etc.)   
5% Place of worship   
4% School   

Where do you think you would find the LEAST support if you had a problem?
42% School   
28% Other adults (doctors, social workers, probation staff, group home staff, etc.)   
17% Family   
17% Place of worship   
13% Friends   
9% Other

What views about mental health do you get from the media (TV, radio, printed articles, websites)?
70% If you have a problem, you should talk to a friend or family member   
60% It’s normal to feel down or depressed
sometimes
43% If you have a problem, you should get therapy   
27% There’s something wrong with you if you have a mental health problem   
26% Only crazy people go to therapy   
20% Therapists don’t understand what teens are going through   
2% Other   
(Respondents checked all that applied)

If you had a problem, which of the following would you find most helpful at your school? Please put these in order of priority from 1 to 5 (with 1 being most helpful and 5 being least helpful).
A close friend I could trust was selected as most helpful, with 56%.
Other choices were:
–A peer-support program where I could talk to other teens
–A psychologist so I could talk to a professional about my problems
–A teacher who had time to listen
–A listing of resources where I could turn for help, such as hotlines and clinics that provide low-cost therapy
–None of the above