Define Mental Illness

Mental Illness is the absence of mental health, just as death is the absence of life.

The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a being of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". It was previously stated that there was no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined.

Most recently, the field of Global Mental Health has emerged, which has been defined as 'the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving mental health and achieving equity in mental health for all people worldwide.

(By the broad definition of mental health above it seems that many in the world need to improve their mental health ... "a state of well being ....can work productively and fruitfully and able to make a contribution to his or her community, and it is important that they include that the individual realizes his/her abilities...." !! I believe very few alive today are able to realize their abilities to the fullest extent....)

World Health stats on Mental Illness.... The War we Lost ....

I hope no one minds my alerting you to the info about Mental Illness statistics....

 

Our Pekingese and pets, friends, and family help us keep our sanity, but there are many still suffering in silence because Mental Illness is the BIG problem no one wants to discuss openly or admit as a reason for our economy's problems.... When is the last time you heard progress mentioned or research trying to develop preventatives .... If our economy is going down the tubes it is perhaps we are waging war off in foreign countries ignoring our own problems here at home .... The Holiday Season is the worse statistically for tragedy and when Mental Illness seems to flare up ....

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http://www.myasha.org/node/1

Startling Statistics About Mental Illness 

1. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in every 4 people, or 25% per cent of individuals, develops one or more mental disorders at some stage in life.  Today, 450 million people globally suffer from mental disorders in both developed and developing countries.   Of these, 154 million suffer from depression, 25 million from schizophrenia, 91 million from alcohol use disorder and 15 million drug use disorder.
2. Mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.
3. Mental disorders can now be diagnosed reliably and accurately as the most common physical disorders; some can be prevented, all can be successfully managed and treated.
4. Treatment works.  Yet, as many as two-thirds of all people with a diagnosable mental disorder do not seek treatment, whether for fear of being stigmatized, fear that the treatment may be worse than the illness itself, or lack of awareness, access and affordability of care.
5. Mental illnesses do not discriminate – they can affect anyone, men, women and children regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.
6. Mental health problems represent 5 out of 10 leading causes of disability worldwide; amounting to nearly one-third of the disability in the world.  Leading contributors include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, and dementia.
7. Mental illnesses rank first among illnesses that cause disability in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe.
8. It is predicted that by 2010, depression will be the leading cause of disability worldwide, not cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or AIDS (WHO).
9. Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time, and also with co-morbid chronic diseases such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart disease, etc.
10. Mental illness is a serious public health challenge that is under-recognized as a public burden.  The toll of mental illness is tragic: 

Human Cost:  Suicide claims a life every 30 seconds.

• According to the World Health Organization almost 3,000 people commit suicide every day in the world.
• For every person that succeeds in taking their own life there are at least 20 more who try.
• The global suicide rate is up 60% over the last 50 years with an even more marked increase in the developed world.
• Suicide is among the top three causes of death among people between 15 and 34 years old, but most suicide victims are found among the elderly, those aged 60 and above.
• Suicide worldwide causes more deaths every year than homicide or war.  Suicide is a huge but largely preventable public health problem, causing almost half of all violent deaths and resulting in almost one million fatalities every year. Estimates suggest fatalities could rise to 1.5 million by 2020. 
• In 90% of suicides, mental illness is the attributing cause. 

Economic Cost:  Mental disorders cost billions of dollars.

• Mental disorders have clear economic costs. While numbers cannot convey the distress accompanying mental disorders, the economic impact can be calculated. Sufferers and their families or caregivers often experience reduced productivity at home and in the workplace. Lost wages, combined with the possibility of catastrophic health care costs, can seriously affect patients and their families' financial situation, creating or worsening poverty.
• Wherever economic costs of mental disorders have been studied, the figures are staggering.  The most comprehensive set of estimates comes from the Unites states.  Mental disorders cost the United States more than $150 billion each year for treatment, for the costs of social service and disability payments made to patients, and for lost productivity and premature mortality.

Social Cost:  Mental disorders can lead to unemployment, homelessness, incarceration, and poverty.

• Although obviously substantial, this burden has not been efficiently measured. This is because of the lack of quantitative data and difficulties in measuring and evaluating. 
• However, in America, fewer than 55,000 Americans currently receive treatment in psychiatric hospitals. Meanwhile, almost 10 times that number -- nearly 500,000 -- mentally ill men and women are serving time in U.S. jails and prisons.   (The New Asylums – A PBS Frontline Documentary). 
• An alarming 65% of boys and 75% of girls in juvenile detention have at least one psychiatric diagnosis. (Teplin, L. Archives of General Psychiatry, Vol. 59, December 2002). 
• Approximately 40% of the people who re homeless in America suffer from serious and persistent mental illnesses.  Many of these individuals also suffer from co-occurring substance abuse disorders. (U.S. Conference of Mayors)

(c) ASHA International, 2007

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Mental Disorders, Global Chart...

 

Mental Illness is a widespread global problem and U.S has highest rate...  WHY?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5111202/ns/health-mental_health/

Mental illnesses including anxiety disorders and depression are common and under-treated in many developed and developing countries, with the highest rate found in the United States, according to a study of 14 countries.

Based on face-to-face diagnostic surveys in the homes of 60,463 adults, the study found that mental ailments affect more than 10 percent of people queried in more than half the countries surveyed.

Rates ranged from 26.4 percent of people in the United States to 8.2 percent of people in Italy. While Nigerians appeared to have the lowest prevalence of mental illness — 4.7 percent — the researchers think the actual number is likely much higher since residents of the violence-prone West African nation may be hesitant to confide in strangers.

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I found the URL Catholic definition of insanity interesting reading .... it might also lead to an interesting discussion ... Catholicism is the only religion that I know of that defines insanity as such and does not use the more apt term mental illness. Catholicism withholds spiritual benefits from those so afflicted denying them Extreme Unction ?? ... In all of my Protestant background, it practices that mental illness is no different than any other physical illness with regard to eligibility for spiritual benefits as extended by it....

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08041a.htm

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EINSTEIN'S Definition of Insanity

July 1st, 2010
by Editor

The genius Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". By this definition, I am concerned that our intellectual elites have become insane.

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Islam and Insanity....

(termed Mental Illness) .... Insanity in Islam is a legal term .... and used in legal proceedings and is different than Mental Illness

http://www.smilecan.org/mental-illness-and-islam/comment-page-1 (one of the more enlightened definitions I have discovered in my research on the subject)

......Mental illness is broadly defined as a disorder that affects a person's cognitive, social, emotional and/or behavioural state or abilities (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Islam views mental illness as a condition that results from an unbalanced lifestyle (diet, sleeping patterns, spiritual activities, and remembrance of God) or an unbalanced body (Rahman, 1998). Many prevalent definitions of mental illness are related to the culture of geographic areas. Popular beliefs in Middle Eastern, African and Asian cultures view mental illness as: a punishment from God; a result of possession of evil spirits (Jinn); the effects of evil eye; and the effects of evil in objects that are transferred to the individual (the evil is put into the object by someone with malicious intent) (Stein, 2000; Pridmore & Pasha, 2004). Traditionally, Islam does not link all mental illnesses to supernatural causes (Rahman). Furthermore, one of the early Muslim scholars in psychiatric health care, Ibn Sina, rejected the popular notion that mental illnesses originated from evil spirits (Pridmore & Pasha). It is important to note that supernatural causes to illnesses are widely acknowledged and are considered very real within Islam. However, as a Muslim community, we need to recognize mental illness as a legitimate medical condition that is distinct from illnesses of a supernatural nature. In this way, individuals can acknowledge or accept their mental illness and seek treatment with more community support and less stigma associated with their diagnoses.

The Gift

A friend recently gave me a pair of Australian fire opal earrings and when I opened the box, I said to her (even though I ceased wearing jewelry a long time ago), “but my ears aren’t pierced...” she replied, “Oh, I thought they were, I could see you with those earrings”. I realized she was able to perceive not only the present me, but the past and maybe the future as well. I replied, “Oh, I did wear earrings about 10 years ago, but then when my jewelry was stolen, I never opted to buy any more”. She said well, if your ears are pierced they probably still are open. I asked her to try to see if she could put the earrings in my ears and she did so carefully. I was amazed! I thought my pierced ears had closed. I haven’t taken the earrings off and probably never will. A thoughtful gift from a friend or a loved one can override all objections, prior thoughts, and decisions previously in mind regarding the item.

What may seem closed forever, a friend may open with love and thoughtfulness

Do the Martin Mango ...

 THE MARTIN MANGO

 

Something nourishing today,

Needing to up the vitamin C,

to chase cold and flu away,

Yo created this for you to see,

Martin's Mango, U.S.A.

Try it, maybe like it, and agree.

1. In blender ......
2. Cut up minus the core ...3 red ripe mangos leaving the red skin on the fruit
3. add 1 peeled banana
4. 1 520 ml (17.6 oz) can of Goya Coconut water (with young pulp if possible)
5. 1/4 cup lemon juice
6. (blend of and on, then on high speed until the red peel in now tiny specks and the drink is smooth)...
7. serve over ice or as is, room temperature (my preference)... (also good over cake slices, etc

 

 

4 Simple Great Truths ???

 

4 SIMPLE GREAT TRUTHS

 

Believe in yourself,

others may assist you ...

 

Don't believe in yourself,

others may dismiss you ...

 

Believe in your God,

others may not harm you...

 

Don't believe in your God,

others may alarm you...

 

(yeshiva, Yolanda Martin ©)

 

 

Mega Truths

Mega Truths....

• Truth has many faces, see its soul.
• If truth can be told, it must be told.
• If there is a better truth, progress finds it.
• Truths like time, expire. 
• What is true today, may not be true tomorrow.
• Let go of old truths accepting new truths with all related changes.
•  
• Truths have limits of accuracy.
• If truth's valid domain enlarges or shrinks reevaluate validity.
• Truths create sane social systems, destroys those not.
• Truth reigns supreme.
• Truth surpasses corruption and confusion.
• Truth has value and integrity.
• Truth today creates a better tomorrow.

• ---

Cleaning up the messy consequences of dishonesty and incompetency is costly but necessary for everyone's sense and sanity.