It's no secret that over the past several decades there has been a sharp rise in the number of mental health problems that are being experienced by the American public. This stands in sharp contrast to many other countries, who have seen a general improvement in the mental well-being of their populations. This raises the question, why is mental illness on the rise in the United States? While there are no definitive answers to this question, a number of interesting possibilities have been raised by researchers and academics. One of the most prominent of these theories is that the long hours and relatively few vacation days most Americans experience takes a mental toll. Another interesting explaination for this phenomenon is the individualistic nature of American society. Many countries are much more group oriented, potentially providing superior support systems for individuals experiencing personal difficulties. Regardless of the reasons behind this growing problem, it has become clear that America must do something to improve the overall mental health of it's population.
For those interested in the subject, this article raises some additional interesting points about mental health in America - http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/2013/10/12/is-america-less-mentally-healthy-than-a-chilean-jail/#.UnKLf_mkqFt