Giving Compass' Take:

· Writing for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, John Schmid discusses the rise of mental health issues throughout America and addresses the funding gap for initiatives aiming to help.

· Stigma is a major issue surrounding mental illness. What role does it play in the lack of funding it receives?

· Here's more on why funding mental health should be a priority. 

When it comes to America's escalating epidemic of psychological disorders, odds are you either know someone or you are someone.

One in five adults have a mental health condition — which can range from post-traumatic stress to chronic anxiety to bipolar disorder — equivalent to more than 46 million Americans — spanning all ethnicities, geographies and economic classes.

Suicide rates have risen steadily throughout the century and now stand at the highest levels in 78 years — levels not seen since suicides spiked during the Great Depression and World War II, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide has become the nation’s second leading cause of death between the ages 10-34 (behind “unintentional injury” and ahead of homicide).

Among the nation's youth population, rates of severe depression have increased to 8.7 percent from 5.9 percent in the latest available five-year period, according to the nonprofit advocacy group Mental Health America. Of the 50 states, Wisconsin ranks 47th highest in the share of youth with at least one major depressive episode in the past year.

Read the full article about funding for mental health by John Schmid at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel