The impact of recent and upcoming job losses is turning out to be a mental health crisis. We all naturally feel the blues every once in a while, But, however, research has found that major events such as job loss can cause the blues to last longer, to the extent to transform it into clinical depression! And this generally happens with displaced workers. ‘Self-esteem almost always suffers when finances are worrisome,’ said Dr. Dorothy Berg, director of North Kent Guidance Services in Greenville. ‘Depression for laid-off workers will be an issue, especially at about the six-month mark… The financial struggles and ongoing struggle to find work is frustrating and probably will create some depression for most laid-off workers,’ said Cory Cole, coordinator of the Displaced Worker Program with the Montcalm Center for Behavioral Health in Stanton.
mental health
TagIs Depression Linked with Injury?
Injuries are common among AFL players. And such serious injuries are the major cause of depression for them, the league’s chief medical officer told a sport and mental health conference yesterday. A range of issues associated with recovering from a serious injury can be of concern to a player, according to Dr Harry Unglik, who helped former North Melbourne and Sydney player Wayne Schwass through depression. “We don’t know how prevalent it is, but, anecdotally, when players get serious injuries – knee reconstructions, shoulder reconstructions, fractures to major bones – and they are going to be out for a long time, first of all they get a bit isolated, they train a bit on their own, they are not part of the group and you can just tell’ From Chemistry to Communities”, Unglik said at Monash University’s Sport and Mental Health conference.
Online way to keep stress away
Defense officials have launched an online mental health self-assessment program. This initiative has started to teach military families about the signs of serious behavior disorders. It will help those suffering from problems and will provide the proficient aid to them. It covers the symptoms of dejection, bipolar disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol abuse. Dr. (Col.) Joyce Adkins,a Defense Department’s official, said that they are expecting to get the acceptance among troops and their family. They are alarmed about the disgrace of mental health issues among troops and family members. The process of the program is completely confidential. It is all about person’s welfare and it maintains full secrecy. The person can also be contacted namelessly. They can contact defense physicians also for face-to-face sessions. This program can help the family members to deal with their own health concerns during deployment. It has started concerning to the online assessments through the Web sites.
People with low blood pressure more susceptible to depression
In an eye-opening revelation, a Norwegian study has revealed that people with low blood pressure are more likely to face depression. Telling more clearly about the whole issue the same study further states that people with low blood pressure suffered from anxiety issues or depression more frequently when compared to people with normal blood pressure. No doubt, this is not the first study, which has tried to associate low blood pressure with depression since several studies earlier too have done the same thing. However, we can’t deny that once again through this study this matter has been brought to the light, which emphasizes that in order to keep depression at bay it is important to keep blood pressure at normal level.
Kids’ suicides on the rise: CDC report
In the recent years, suicide rate among kids has rocketed startlingly, as per the report transpired by CDC. This is definitely a matter of serious concern. In this regard Dr. David Fassler, a University of Vermont psychiatry professor, observers, ‘This is very disturbing news.’ Before we go ahead with this issue, here is a wrap up of the main points that came to the fore through this investigation:- 1. The suicide rate climbed 18% from 2003 to 2004 for Americans under age 20. 2. Most suicides occurred in older teens. 3. The suicide rate among 15- to 19-year-olds fell in previous years from 11 per 100,000 in 1990 to 7.3 per 100,000 in 2003. 4. Suicides were the main cause of death that increased for children through age 19 from 2003-04. 5. During this period, use of antidepressant among children came down. The above fact raises a question that – Can this much of rise in suicide cases among kids be attributed to the decreased use of antidepressants? But while mulling over this issue, we can also not keep a blind eye to previous studies, focusing on the same issue, which have expounded the view that taking antidepressants to fight depression may worsen the situation. At the same time, some studies have gone to the extent associating antidepressants with suicidal behaviors. Here is a look:- 1. Children and teens at increased risk for suicide with antidepressants, says FDA. 2. Antidepressants may worsen the condition. 3. Antidepressants a Suicide Risk for Young Adults. 4. Antidepressants and suicide. 5. Adults’ antidepressant bone risk. 6. Antidepressants Increase Suicide Risks? Interestingly, there is no privation of such claims too that have dubbed antidepressants as a potent weapon against mental disorder, especially depression. Here is a brief look:- 1. Study: Benefits of Antidepressants Outweigh Risks 2. Who benefits from antidepressants? 3. Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for children and adolescents 4. Antidepressants: advantages in the management of depression. The main purpose behind pulling out these paradoxical studies is to bring before the readers the point that studies conducted on the association of antidepressants and suicide have just nourished the Gordian knot further. Perhaps that is the reason why CDC’s Dr. Alexander Crosby avers: It’s something that we want to look a little bit closer into… It’s probably too early to say” if declining use of antidepressants had anything to do with it. Still, it would not be wrong to say that the main issue, which has come to the surface through this study i.e. ‘suicide rate among kids is on the rise’, is definitely obfuscating that cries for deeper study.
How can college administrations handle mental health?
Last few day have been full of the terrible episode of killings of by 23-year-old Virginia Tech student Cho Seung-Hui, this sparks an important debate in terms of mental health of students. A debate that should have come much earlier and maybe could have prevented the deadliest one-man shooting rampages in U.S. history. Cho Seung-Hui exhibited odd behavior but deciding if odd behavior adds up to mental illness, or presents a danger of suicide or violence against others, involves a network of factors. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects mentally ill people from discrimination, prevents campus officials from throwing someone out of school simply for being depressed or schizophrenic. If a student is clearly violating the campus’ code of conduct, however, suspension is an option Just last month, Virginia passed the nation’s first law banning public colleges and universities from punishing or kicking out students solely because they tried to commit suicide or seek mental health treatment. Previous killing and suicides have resulted in universities kicking students they suspected of being unstable off campus, either permanently or temporarily. However, these very students then sued the universities because they were kicked off the campus when they sought treatment for depression. Then again even if a student seeks counseling, federal privacy laws bar the counselor from sharing information with other university professionals unless the student makes a specific threat. So the danger that such a person poses remains real and present. No wonder many of the students were afraid to go to colleges after the shoot out. So what if you can identify the danger signs? What can you do beyond that? What we need here are definite means to identify people who may be under high stress and may be in trouble and then have rules that do not discriminate against them yet prevent them from being a danger to others. Mentors need to have a follow up system to check on such kids. Maybe as students, you can start by having more empathy for the person sitting next to you. America’s young people face a mental health crisis. College counseling, center directors report an increase in students with severe psychological problems. Children are overwhelmed with pressures of growing up, fitting in and getting ahead creating a horde of mental health problems. Some more attention needs to be focused on this grave issue. Read
Antidepressants gaining popularity, at the cost of health
Use of antidepressants is fast becoming a common thing, especially for the Australians with more and more people turning prone to mental health problems. A report from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) come out exposing this darker facet the Australians’ health. According to this report: • The number of antidepressants prescriptions increased 2.2 per cent per year between 2000-01 and 2005-06. • The use of antipsychotics increased just in a year about 6.8 per cent while this increase was 4.6 per cent for antidepressants. • Where in 2000-01 doctors prescribed about 9.8 million antidepressants while this figure reached 12.3 million in 2005-06. • Just in a single year use of antipsychotic increased from 1.3 million scripts to 1.8 million. • More people in Tasmania and South Australia were seeking for mental health medication while the use of mental health medication was comparatively lower in the Northern Territory and the Australia Capital Territory. • One in two Australians seeking help each year. • About 190,000 people were treated in a hospital emergency department for a mental illness during 2004-05. Facts, looming out of this report paint quite a gloomy picture of Australians’ mental health. However, it is worth mentioning that this is not for the first time when upsetting picture of Australians’ mental health has come to the fore, because earlier too experts have pointed that Australia’s mental health system is in distress. And if we look at this problem in wider term then we can say that the issue of worsening mental health is worrying not only the Australians but the entire globe. Following points bring out this picture very clearly: • The mental health of New Zealanders is getting worse • Mental health fears in China • Mental health care system in New Orleans is growing worse These facts indirectly show that people’s dependence on antidepressants is skyrocketing not only in Australia but also around the world. This is a harsh reality that hundreds of millions of people worldwide are affected by mental, behavioral, neurological and substance use disorders. Proving this stark fact further an estimate in 2002 by the World Health Organization shows that 154 million people globally suffer from depression and 25 million people from schizophrenia; 91 million people are affected by alcohol use disorders and 15 million by drug use disorders. And due to this very reason a majority of such people stoop for using these antidepressants, which is quite a bad thing because there are many side effects that antidepressants have been linked to. Following is the list of those side effects: • Dry mouth • Urinary retention • Blurred vision • Constipation • Sedation (can interfere with driving or operating machinery) • Sleep disruption • Weight gain • Headache • Nausea • Gastrointestinal disturbance/diarrhea • Abdominal pain • Inability to achieve an erection • Inability to achieve an orgasm (men and women) • Loss of libido • Agitation • Anxiety This shows that too much dependence on antidepressants may no doubt, help curing bad mental health but several side effects as mentioned above may also flock with it. Image Via: News
Depression: Depressing the world economy
Cutthroat competition, rise and fall in the business sphere are not the only threats that the world-economy is constantly grappling with but depression is also foraying into its foundation. Proving this fact further, a new study unveils that depression costs $10b a year. This conclusion is based on the facts that came out during an analysis of about 90,000 workers at 60 of the nation’s biggest firms. Study’s fact: At a glance: • One in 20 employees was at very high risk of a mental health disorder. • Women were comparatively more vulnerable to mental health disorders than men. • An unwell man costs an average of about $8500 a year. • While unwell woman costs about $2300 in a year. • Mental health disorder results in $9.6 million productivity loss, nationwide. • Only 20 per cent of the employees with mental health disorders were receiving treatment. • 5.6 per cent of men and 6 per cent of women were at very high risk of having a mental health disorder. • People required to work more than 60 hours a week were at greatest risk. • Those who were suffering mental illness cost their company more, about $25,000 a year. These figures bring to light quite a gloomy picture of the mental health situation, prevailing in Australia. In addition, they also confirm the fact that Australian economy is severely being targeted by the phobia called, depression. However, it is worth mentioning that Australia is not the only country where working class is grappling with depression or other mental disorders, but there are many other countries, where depression rate, especially among the working class is fast burgeoning. And the direct implication of this depression in workplace is befalling on the productivity of the employees. According to an estimate, there are about 400 million people with disabling neuro-psychiatric condition, among which depression alone is expected to become the second highest cause of death worldwide after coronary artery disease. Looking at the present scenario it could be asserted that countries like America, UK, Australia, and China are comparatively more vulnerable to depression, which indirectly shows that threat to the economies of these countries is comparatively greater. It is quite unfortunate that a major chunk of people, suffering from depression do not having access to drugs and treatments that are essential to restore mental health, as states a report by WHO. According to this report, only about 18% of patients with mental health disorders get correct and specific treatment. Putting more light on the worldwide situation of depression the same report estimates that annually, about 33.4 million people suffer from severe depression, which is quite a serious issue. Looking at the rising tide of depression cases and its impact on the world economy, it could be asserted that taking hard measures to check this rise in depression is must as it will not only help ensuring our victory on the health front but on economic front too by checking the decline in the productivity of the workforce, which is being imperiled by the phobia called, depression. Via: Border Mail
Regular physical exercise helps in tackling depression
Regular physical exercise can be an effective alternative for medicines if you are suffering from depression. Spend a few minutes everyday in physical exercises and meditation. You won’t need to follow the medicated procedures. Physical activity of the body adjusts brain chemistry leading to feelings of well being. Exercise also helps in tackling anxiety. Depression is a chemical disorder, which alters the function of normal brain behavior. A depressed person sees no positive in anything. He lives a frustrated life. In extreme cases, depression might result in other diseases like Alzheimer’s or force the patient to suicide. But, physical exercise refreshes thoughts, mental set-up of the brain changes. Positive thoughts substitute the negative ones, leading to positive self-concept, more self-esteem and more positive moods. Studies indicate that regular exercise may be as effective as other treatments like medication and counseling to relieve mental health problems such as depression. It is found that people who indulge themselves in some kind of physical exercise daily tend to have significantly less depression. Exercise regulates the mental metabolism and helps in developing positive thought, which are totally opposite to depression. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Public Health, physical exercise must form a regular feature of a person’s routine. The MHDDAD or Georgia Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases, treats its over 2,00,000 patients per year with a treatment plan that carries a plethora of physical exercises spanning from walking, jogging to gardening. Physical exercise can significantly improve well being of the person. It can help provide a distraction from worries, tensions, stress and anxiety. Exercise enables to keep the body fit, helping in sound sleep, which is a must for a person afflicted with depression. On the whole, it can change the entire perspective of life for a person. However, before endeavoring a serious exercise program, people with clinical depression should discuss it with their doctor. Image Via: The Weekly
Depression causing retirement
An advertisement for financial assistance entices people with the prospects of retiring at the age of 45. But why would someone want to retire in his or her prime? What does the person do after retiring? According to Mental Health America, depression is among the top three workplace problems that employees face. What’s troubling is that depression seems to be affecting more and more people who are in their prime. With middle aged men and women choosing to retire early because they suffer from depression – what needs to be asked is what makes people so depressed even though they seem successful? If you’re in a high end job and seem to have everything, but yet are in an unhappy mood, be careful, you could be suffering from depression at the work place. Perhaps it is the culture of today that emphasizes individuality to the extent that people are now living in an almost ‘walkman-culture’. With each one involved only with their personal life and hardly any meaningful social interaction – depression is sure to set in. People who suffer from depression are sometimes unaware of it. Unlike earlier times when people were more in touch with family and friends, today people live fast paced lives with little or no time to share their lives with others. As a result of this there is no one to stop and find out if someone is unhappy and help them change their mood. lead researcher Jalpa Doshi said, In light of our findings, it is of concern that major depression and depressive symptoms are often unrecognized and under-treated. The burden presented by depression may be higher than we thought. The problem of retiring because one suffers from depression creates a fresh problem for people who have inadequate funds stored away for post retirement. If you are worried that you could be suffering from depression, check out the following symptoms. See your doctor* if you experience five or more of the following symptoms for more than two weeks: � Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood. � Sleeping too little, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much. � Reduced appetite and/or weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain. � Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex. � Restlessness, irritability. � Persistent physical symptoms that don’t respond to treatment (such as headaches, chronic pain or digestive disorders). � Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. � Fatigue or loss of energy. � Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless. � Thoughts of suicide or death. As a first step, a thorough physical examination may be recommended to rule out other illnesses.