Disease_Trends_of_Mental_Illness

Disease Trends of Mental Illness Mental health is often overlooked. So, when we discuss it pertaining to disease trends, the results are always shocking. It seems as if it is always worse than what was originally thought. “The American Journal of Public Health recently reported a study which shows a 2.7% increase in self-reported mental health disability among the non-elderly.” (Mack, 2012). The article does not make it clear on what is meant by self-reported mental health disabilities, but I would venture to say that it means the percentage of people who have sought help because they felt there was a mental illness issue. Once evaluated, it was found that they indeed had a mental illness. This article discusses different possible causes of mental illness, how and if it can be prevented, and the things you may want to avoid doing if you think you may be suffering from mental illness. While some individuals may be born with a mental illness, others develop it over time. Stress, socioeconomic factors, such as poverty or being laid off from a job, and other life-altering experiences can often times cause a mental illness to occur. Everyone handles these types of changes in different ways. Some have problems coping and cannot handle the things that are happening. Physically ill people have a risk of also acquiring some type of mental health issue. “It is also well known that people with chronic diseases are more prone to mental illness.” (Mack, 2012). The author begins discussing preventative methods by sarcastically stating: “Every body just stop what you are doing; take a deep breath; and just relax! Well anyone who has ever suffered from clinical Depression or Anxiety will tell you’ it is not quite that easy’.” Mack suggests that a change of scenery may help, but not all people have the resources to leave for a mental health break. He goes on to share that diet and exercise may help to put you in a healthier state of mind. Regular exercise and a balanced diet seem to be the base element to health, body and mind. Preventative measures in any type of health should be considered. How a person deals with the stressor may be the determining factor of if the situation pushes them over the edge or not. When a person experiences stress and internalizes it, there are different outcomes. Some handle it well while others feel like they have nowhere to turn and the stress becomes worse. From there, other factors may compound the original issue that caused the stress, and the situation worsens from there. Treatment of mental illness is scarce. Outside of therapy and prescription medication to help subside the symptoms, there really is no way to cure a mental illness. But, you must find a way to get treatment. “Some mental illnesses cannot be prevented and can only be treated with medication but it is very important that we are able to get the proper evaluations in order to make sure that everyone has access to treatment.” (Mack, 2012). The article gives a national evaluation of the disease trend of mental illness among the non-elderly. The findings come from The American Journal of Public Health. If it were to give a global perspective, the numbers would be entirely off base. We have a hard enough time in this country getting people to admit that they may need to be evaluated for a mental illness, partly due to the stigma attached to it. Imagine how hard it may be for those in other countries to admit to having a mental illness. I do not think we will ever really have an accurate number of the percentage of people globally who are suffering from a mental illness. There are many different ways to cope with major stress. Take a vacation, focus on living a healthier lifestyle, or simply sharing your feelings with a person you trust. Things Mack points out in this article that you may want to avoid is becoming dependent upon drugs and or alcohol to make the bad feelings go away. That could be a pathway to more stress, leading you closer to a mental illness. Some people have a predisposition to mental illness, while others have things happen to them throughout the course of their lives that causes them to develop one. The trend of mental illness in this country is on a rise. This finding could actually be a positive one. More people feel the need to share their concerns about their mental health so that they may receive the help that they need. References Mack, Dominic. "An Awareness of Mental Health." Editorial. AJC. AJC, 7 Feb. 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. .