Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Illness and Substance Use in Young Adults

Entering adulthood can be an emotional time, but sometimes the ups and downs can mean something more.

Millions of young adults are living with a mental or substance use disorder and many either

do not realize they have one or are not paying attention to the signs and not seeking help. In fact, of the 8.9 million young adults who reported having a mental illness in 2018, more than 2 in 5 went untreated and of the 5.1 million with a substance use disorder, nearly 9 in 10 did not get treatment.

It is important to remember that asking for help is a normal part of life, and you should never feel like you have to take on the world alone. If you are concerned that you or someone in your life may be drinking too much, using drugs, or dealing with mental illness, there are resources available to help.

View and share audio and video files, and other resources

If you, or someone you know, needs help with a mental or substance use disorder, call SAMHSA’s National Helplineat 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889, or text your zip code to 435748(HELP4U), or use SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator to get help