Facts

Some facts about mental illness:

• More hospital space is occupied by the mentally ill than by patients suffering from cancer, lung, and/or heart diseases combined.
  

• Most persons with mental illnesses, aided by new medications and new treatment approaches, can lead productive lives.
  

• Mental illness costs this country over $200 billion dollars each year in medical expenses, lost productivity, and social welfare benefits.
  

• Public (tax payer) support of treatment research for mental illness is only 1/30th of what is allocated for cancer and heart disease on a per patient basis.
  

• Prior to approval by the FDA medication must undergo testing for approximately 10 years, often costing $800 million dollars.
  

• This testing takes place both nationwide and worldwide daily and must be conducted according to strict safety and scientific standards.

• In the hundred years since the creation of the FDA, life expectancy in the United States has increased by over 20 years, largely due to the availability of new treatments for previously devastating illnesses.

Remember:

WITHOUT CLINICAL TESTING IN HUMAN VOLUNTEERS A BRILLIANT IDEA REMAINS JUST A PROMISE. WITH TESTING IT BECOMES A TREATMENT.