In recognition of World Brain Day, Daniel G. Amen, MD and Amen Clinics are calling for a transformative shift in the way we approach mental health: by treating it as brain health—a medical issue that deserves the same scientific attention and diagnostic precision as any other physical condition.
Each year, nearly 44 million adults and 14 million children in the U.S. are diagnosed with a mental health disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Yet fewer than half ever receive care. The data is clear:
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness annually
- 1 in 20 face serious mental illness
- 1 in 6 youth (ages 6-17) experience a mental health disorder each year
- 50% of lifetime mental illness begins by age 14
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among kids ages 10–14
Despite the prevalence, stigma remains a major barrier. “People don’t want to be seen as crazy, stupid, or defective,” said Dr. Amen, founder of Amen Clinics and one of America’s leading brain health experts. “By the time someone seeks help, they’ve often endured years of pain—in their relationships, at work, or within themselves.”
Dr. Amen is championing a new model: one that looks at mental illness through the lens of brain science. For decades, psychiatric care has relied on symptom checklists and medication—without ever actually examining the organ it treats.
“A cardiologist would never treat chest pain without first looking at the heart,” said Dr. Amen. “But when it comes to behavior, learning, or emotional issues, most physicians are making educated guesses.”
Amen Clinics has analyzed nearly 260,000 brain scans from patients across 155 countries, making it the world’s leading authority on brain imaging in clinical psychiatry. These scans reveal how underlying brain injuries, toxic exposures, or infections are often missed without imaging—leading to misdiagnoses and incorrect treatment.
As we observe World Brain Day, Amen Clinics is encouraging Americans to rethink how they understand and treat mental health—not as a character flaw, but as a complex, biological, and neurological issue.
Video below:
Dr. Daniel Amen is not just a world-renowned psychiatrist—he’s a man on a mission from God. In this powerful and deeply personal video, Dr. Amen shares the story that radically changed his life and medical career. After facing intense criticism from the psychiatric establishment for using brain scans to treat patients, Dr. Amen found himself at a crossroads. But it was one phone call—from a desperate family member—that solidified his conviction forever.
In 1995, Dr. Amen’s 9-year-old nephew Andrew showed violent and disturbing behavior that had doctors ready to prescribe psychiatric meds and therapy. But Dr. Amen knew something wasn’t right. Instead of following the crowd, he turned to what God had placed on his heart: to look deeper—literally. What he discovered through a brain scan was shocking: a massive cyst pressing against Andrew’s brain, putting his life—and the lives of others—at serious risk. Traditional doctors refused to operate. But Dr. Amen refused to back down.
This emotional testimony reveals how courage, conviction, and faith saved a young boy’s life and sparked a movement that is transforming how mental health is understood. Dr. Amen shows that our brains are not just biochemical machines—they are divine instruments that require care, compassion, and most of all, insight. With powerful references to Jesus’ example and our moral responsibility to the suffering, especially in prisons and society’s margins, this is a call to action for Christians everywhere.
If you’ve ever doubted whether science and faith can work together, or if you’ve ever wondered what God’s purpose is in your professional calling, this video will stir your spirit. Dr. Amen’s fearless journey shows how God can use our gifts to challenge broken systems, heal the hurting, and speak truth in love—even when it’s unpopular. - Daystar