Final answer:
Approximately 50 million American adults, or 20% of the adult population, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder each year, with anxiety and mood disorders being the most common.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mental Health in American Adults
Regarding how many American adults have suffered from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) data suggests that about 20 percent of the total adult population, which translates to over 50 million adults, have a mental illness or mental disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent, with nearly 18 percent of U.S. adults affected annually. Mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, also contribute significantly, affecting roughly 10 percent of U.S. adults each year. Serious mental illness or mental disorder, which causes impairment or disability, affects about 5 percent of the adult population.
Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, there has been an increase in the number of Americans seeking mental health assistance. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a critical resource that outlines the various mental health disorders, providing a framework for diagnosing these conditions.