Mental Health

The NCBW Richmond Metropolitan Area Chapter’s aim is to aggressively develop an awareness campaign concerning the causes, symptoms and treatment of mental health issues.  African Americans account for roughly 16% of the mental health needs in this country while only making up 13.4% of the national population. 


“At the root of this dilemma is the way we view mental health in this country. Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg or your brain, it's still an illness and there should be no distinction."

- Michelle Obama -

  • 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. 1 in 6 U.S. youth (aged 6 to 17) experience a mental health disorder each year.
  • 1 out of 20 U.S. Adults experience serious mental illness each year.
  • 1,115,000 Adults in Virginia have a mental health condition. That’s more than 4 times the population of Richmond.
  • In February 2021, 36.9% of adults in Virginia reported symptoms of anxiety or depression.
  • More than half of the people in Virginia with a mental health condition did not receive any treatment in the past year.
  • Schizophrenia usually develops early in life and costs the US economy an estimated $155.7 Billion a year.
  • 1 in 4 people with serious mental illness have been arrested leading to over 2 million people with mental illness are booked into jails every year.
  • 1,943,480 people in Virginia live in areas with a shortage of mental health professional.
  • Depression is the #1 leading cause of disability in the world and mental illness.
  • 1 American dies by suicide every 11 minutes.