Awareness
Tools & Resources
Chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, disability, and caring for a loved one with illness impacts every aspect of life – faith, families, finances, friendships, education, hobbies, employment and marriage.
DID YOU KNOW? Awareness is an invitation to begin a conversation, to discover radical community, to encourage and build one another up – and to THRIVE in a life with chronic illness.
Our awareness campaign features images and information on our website and across our social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Share to spread the word and increase awareness.
Begin the conversation with the question, DID YOU KNOW? and you will be changing the landscape for more than half of the world’s population who live with chronic physical illness, for the 1 in 5 who live with mental illness, and for all those caring for someone with a chronic physical or mental illness.
Statistics show that either you or someone you love is affected by chronic illness – far more than people realize.
Together, as we raise awareness, increase knowledge, and utilize educational materials tailored for all who are affected by chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and/or disability; we will also be shattering stigma and isolation. We remind each other and ourselves that while chronic illness is hard, there is hope.
There is always hope.
Chronic illness – Globally, more than 60% of the population lives with one or more chronic illnesses. 96% of those illnesses are invisible – significantly impairing daily activities, yet showing few outward signs.
Caregivers – More than 1 in 5 people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member, averaging 24 hours per week.
Marriage – Three-quarters of all marriages end in divorce when one spouse has chronic illness.
Mental illness affects 1 in 5 adults – approximately 47 million adults in the United States alone. Half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14.
Anxiety – Almost one-third of adults experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.
Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world.
Parenting – Almost half of all teens and young adults have a mental disorder. Half of all mental illness begins by age 14.
Suicide Prevention – Hold on to possibility every day — every 40 seconds we lose one precious life.
Click here find additional awareness images from our Flickr account.
Chronic Joy® Access
Opening Doors. Removing Barriers. Accessibility is an invitation to broaden our perspectives, choosing the simple kindness of including one another, opening doors, and removing barriers.
Awareness Facts
Prevalence, Statistics, and Helpful Information
