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Below are selected publications and materials related to mental health. Please note the year of publication may be later than the year(s) the data represent.

LINKS ON THIS PAGE
2008 Publications and Materials
2007 Publications and Materials
2006 Publications and Materials
2004 Publications and Materials
2002 Publications and Materials
Related Links

2008 Publications and Materials

Prevalence of Self-Reported Postpartum Depressive Symptoms- 17 States, 2004-2005 (4/30/08)
Podcast
Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 10-15% of mothers within the first year after giving birth. Younger mothers and those experiencing partner-related stress or physical abuse might be more likely to develop PPD. This report indicates that, during 2004-2005, the prevalence of self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms in 17 U.S. states ranged from 11.7% (Maine) to 20.4% (New Mexico).

2007 Publications and Materials

Characteristics of Adults with Serious Psychological Distress as Measured by the K6 Scale- United States, 2001-2004 (4/17/07)
The prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) was higher among adults 45–64 years old than younger adults 18–44 years or older adults 65 years and over. Adults with SPD were more likely to be female, have less than a high school diploma, and live in poverty, and less likely to be married than adults without SPD. Moreover, those with SPD were more likely to be obese and to be current smokers.

2006 Publications and Materials

QuickStats: Percentage of Adults with Self-Assessed Symptoms of Serious Psychological Distress, by Sex and Race– United States, 2000-2004 (8/21/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5529a5.htm
During 2000-2004, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults were most likely to have self-assessed symptoms of serious psychological distress, and Asian adults were least likely to have them. Overall, the percentage was highest for AI/AN women, who were at least twice as likely as white women and black women and nearly four times as likely as Asian women to have self-assessed symptoms of serious psychological distress. AI/AN men were more than three times as likely as Asian men to have symptoms.

QuickStats: Rate of Hospitalization for Depression among Persons Aged 5-19 Years, by Sex- United States, 1990-1992 and 2002-2004 (8/1/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5526a5.htm
From 1990-1992 to 2002-2004, the rate of hospitalization for depression increased approximately 81 percent for females aged 5-19 years, to 27.8 per 100,000 population. The rate for young females was nearly twice that for young males during 2002-2004.

2004 Publications and Materials

Preventing Suicide: Program Activities Guide (12/30/05)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/PreventingSuicide.htm
The Preventing Suicide: Program Activities Guide describes CDC’s public health activities and research to prevent suicide and suicidal behavior. The guide outlines four categories of activities which are key to CDC’s prevention work: monitoring and researching the problem, supporting and enhancing prevention programs, providing prevention resources, and encouraging research and development.

The Vital Link between Chronic Disease and Depressive Disorders (12/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jan/04_0066.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jan/pdf/04_0066.pdf
Chronic diseases have assumed an increasingly important role in public health research and intervention. Without treatment, depressive disorders characteristically assume a chronic course and are expected, by 2020, to be second only to heart disease in the global burden of disease. Thus, understanding the relationship between depressive disorders and chronic disease appears vital to public health assessment and health care delivery.

Self-Reported Frequent Mental Distress among Adults- United States, 1993-2001 (10/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5341a1.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5341.pdf
CDC examined the prevalence of frequent mental distress (FMD) among U.S. adults by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and sex, by using aggregate data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys for 1993-2001. This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the prevalence of FMD varied among racial/ethnic populations and increased substantially among whites and blacks. In addition, FMD was reported more frequently by women and by persons with low SES within each racial/ethnic population.

PRAMS and Postpartum Depression (8/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/PRAMS/PPD.htm
Data from three states indicate that nearly 12% of women reported being moderately depressed after they delivered their baby, and 6% reported being very depressed after delivery. Analysis is based on responses to the question, "In the months after your delivery, would you say that you were a) not depressed at all, b) a little depressed, c) moderately depressed, d) very depressed, or e) very depressed and had to get help?" The responses were collapsed into three depression categories: none (a), low to moderate (b or c), and severe (d or e).

Suicide and Attempted Suicide- China, 1990-2002 (6/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5322a6.htm
PDF (p. 481)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5322.pdf
This report summarizes the results of several analyses, which indicated that 58% of China's suicides were caused by ingesting pesticide, 91% of suicide victims had never visited a mental health professional, and 45% of suicide attempts were impulsive acts performed after considering suicide for <10 minutes. In the psychological autopsy study, the median age was 42 years and 49% were female. Among suicide attempters treated in 24 general hospitals in northern China, females outnumbered males by 2.5 to 1, the median age was 29 years, and two thirds of all attempters were young adults aged 15-34 years.

Suicide among Hispanics- United States, 1997—2001 (6/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5322a5.htm
PDF (p. 478)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5322.pdf
To identify demographic groups at risk for suicide and to help guide prevention efforts, CDC analyzed mortality data for 1997-2001, which indicated that, among Hispanics, the largest proportion of suicides occurred among young persons; suicide rates were higher among males; and the most common method of suicide was by firearms. For Hispanic females, rates were highest among those aged 50-54 years, followed by those aged 45-49 years and those aged 15-19 years. Persons of Mexican origin accounted for the majority of suicides, followed by persons of other/unknown Hispanic origin, Central and South Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans.

Methods of Suicide Among Persons Aged 10-19 Years- United States, 1992-2001 (6/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5322a2.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5322.pdf
This report summarizes an analysis, which indicated a substantial decline in suicides by firearm and an increase in suicides by suffocation in persons aged 10-14 and 15-19 years. In 2001, suicide was the third leading cause of death among persons aged 10-19 years. The most common method of suicide in this age group was by firearm (49%), followed by suffocation (mostly hanging) (38%) and poisoning (7%).

2002 Publications and Materials

Psychological and Emotional Effects of the September 11 Attacks on the World Trade Center - Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, 2001
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5135a2.htm
PDF (p. 784)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5135.pdf
To measure the psychological and emotional effects of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC), Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York added a terrorism module to their ongoing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the results of the survey, which suggest widespread psychological and emotional effects in all segments of the three states' populations. The impact of the attacks varied by sex, age group, educational level, and race/ethnicity. Compared with men, women were more likely to have participated in a religious or community memorial service and to get help with the problems they experienced. Men were more likely than women to drink more alcohol, and women smokers were more likely than men to smoke more as a result of the attacks. The findings underscore the importance of collaboration among public health professionals to address the physical and emotional needs of persons affected by the September 11 attacks. BRFSS is a random-digit-dialed telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged >18 years.

Impact of BRCA1/BRCA2 Mutation Testing on Psychologic Distress in a Clinic-Based Sample
http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/hugenet/ejournal/BRCA1_2testing.htm
This is an E-Journal Club review from the Human Genome Epidemiology Network (HuGENeT) of the Schwartz et al article published in J Clin Oncol 2002;20:514-20.

Related Links

Mental Health: Women’s Health Topics A-Z
http://www.cdc.gov/women/az/mntlhlth.htm
View women’s health resources related to mental health.

Fast Stats A-Z: Mental Health Disorders Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental.htm
Learn data and statistics on mental health disorders.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mental Health
http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/faqs.htm
Learn answers to frequently asked questions.

Mental Health
http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/
Learn public health information about mental health.

Stress at Work
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/stress/
Learn more about stress and the workplace.

Suicide in the United States
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/Suicide/default.htm
Learn more about suicide in the United States.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (Non-CDC site)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s mission is to provide immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis by connecting them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider through a toll-free telephone number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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This page last reviewed April 17, 2007
This page last updated January 17, 2008
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/women/pubs/mntlhlth.htm

US Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Women's Health