MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE.
For many of us who grew up in a certain era, the question of mental illness was hardly ever highlighted in "normal" discussions. This topic was mostly in the domain of psychologists, psychiatrists, and a few other practitioners. In our ignorance, mental diseases were interpreted to mean that the sufferers or their generation had committed some infraction against the gods and hence were paying a price.
Fortunately, a few brave human beings decided to re-examine the belief system on mental health and were able to come up with some scientific approaches that promises to bring relief to many.This is good news. However, the task is a tough one.
When you consider that a report coming out of The National Center for Health shows that the US. suicide rate has increased 24% between 1999- 2014, from 10.5 to 13.0 suicides per 100,000 people - the highest recorded in 28 years.
In fact in 2016 there was a staggering 44,965 recorded suicided according to the report.
The highest suicide rates were found in the 45- 54 age group, followed by those 85 or older. Younger folks made up the least in this study.
One good coming out of all of this , this that there is a campaign to bring more awareness and acceptance to mental illness. It may take a while for the taboo to go away completely, but with more education, hopefully, people would seek help for what is an illness just like ant other.
For many of us who grew up in a certain era, the question of mental illness was hardly ever highlighted in "normal" discussions. This topic was mostly in the domain of psychologists, psychiatrists, and a few other practitioners. In our ignorance, mental diseases were interpreted to mean that the sufferers or their generation had committed some infraction against the gods and hence were paying a price.
Fortunately, a few brave human beings decided to re-examine the belief system on mental health and were able to come up with some scientific approaches that promises to bring relief to many.This is good news. However, the task is a tough one.
When you consider that a report coming out of The National Center for Health shows that the US. suicide rate has increased 24% between 1999- 2014, from 10.5 to 13.0 suicides per 100,000 people - the highest recorded in 28 years.
In fact in 2016 there was a staggering 44,965 recorded suicided according to the report.
The highest suicide rates were found in the 45- 54 age group, followed by those 85 or older. Younger folks made up the least in this study.
One good coming out of all of this , this that there is a campaign to bring more awareness and acceptance to mental illness. It may take a while for the taboo to go away completely, but with more education, hopefully, people would seek help for what is an illness just like ant other.