We have so many people on mental disabilities today and many more trying to get on entitlements. Do you think the mentally ill population is increasing? If you do think the population is increasing what is your opion as to why?
2006-11-24 08:39:11 · 14 answers · asked by Crampy Grampy 4 in Health ➔ Mental Health
How weird your question seems to me, because i have mental illness myself, and I was born 20 years ago.
From my own experience in the world of mental illness with people who have had it or treated people who have had it for longer than I have, I know that there are more mentally ill people in the world today, and the number continues to increase.
There are many reasons why this is happening, mainly because of the lowering of the value and dignity of every human life.
People with mental illness may get the medical treatment they need, but if they have no friends or family to treat them with respect and compassion and give the time and energy needed to make those people better, those people will have their mental illness longer than people 20 years ago did.
The most basic social connections that up until recently supported virtually all human beings have disintegrated, and along with those connections, the health and well-being of a large number of human beings, who, exposed to the harshness of everyday life without anyone to tell they matter, slowly fall apart and lose control of their lives, hence the ensuing mental illness.
This is only the beginning of the explanation for why the number of people with mental illness is increasing, but the main conclusion from it is that the cause is from the gradual destruction of basic social conditions that sustain our society, not from biological or genetic conditions like the pharmaceutical companies would like you to think.
2006-11-24 09:14:24 · answer #1 · answered by STILL standing 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think it is increasing but not as much as what we are seeing. Firstly, the population is increasing and therefore so would the cases of mental illness. I also think the stresses of everyday living are a bit harder. These days we work longer hours, have less vacation time, and most of us must live in two-income families which puts more stress on the family unit. I do think that people are taking advantage of this though and that many are on mental disability that are more than capable of working.
2006-11-24 16:55:32 · answer #2 · answered by edawns 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible, simply going by percentages. If there are more people in general...then the frequency of mental illness will also be greater. However I do believe that some of the "illness" is made up so sell therapy time and meds...and also to not have to be responsible for your actions.
Assuming the number of legitimate mental illness is increasing, one could surmise that it may be due in a large part to enviornmental stresses, poor diet, and lack of QUALITY support systems(good family enviornment)
2006-11-24 16:51:37 · answer #3 · answered by Free A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is because in the past they did not have a definition for some of the mental illness that they do now. My daughter has borderline personality disorder with episodes of schizophrenia and psychosis. Years ago that was not a diagnosed problem although if you get to know her, you can tell there is a problem. She can't hold a job, she can't raise her children she can't attend school. She just can't finish anything she starts. If you have just met her you would think she was just immature.
Years ago her problem would not have mattered because she would not have been expected to have children and then go out and work. I think it would have been much easier to hide then.
2006-11-24 16:51:20 · answer #4 · answered by nana4dakids 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure of it, especially personality disorders and psychosis seem to be on the increase.
I think the increase of psychosis is for a large part due to long term drug abuse, especially cannabis.
Personality disorders are mainly caused during the first few years of a person's life by bad parenting :
1. broken up families, families with fights, alcohol abuse or alike..all where the kids don't get love and a safe feeling at home
2. inconsequent rules in a family (mum forbids it, dad allows it) or kids who are pampered all the time and don't learn to share or to think of others.
2006-11-25 01:41:36 · answer #5 · answered by meiguanxi :) 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe 20 years ago there were more illegitimate crazy people but with more and more women having kids out of wedlock these days I'd guess there are less legitimate mentally ill people walking around. Glad to be of help.
2006-11-24 16:44:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no....but there are far less resources for the mentally ill today therefor many are under treated if treated at all . 30 years ago there where more resources and these people were able to function in society. so today it seems like there are more but the reality is they are just not getting the health care they need and deserve.
2006-11-24 16:53:51 · answer #7 · answered by rebeca 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nah, they're just more out in the open. 20 years ago people with schizophrenia like my brother were shut away behind hospital walls or hidden at home. People were embarrassed because they were ignorant, some thought a disabled child was a sign that you had been a bad person and angered God, or that it would make your family look weak and unemployable.
2006-11-24 16:47:33 · answer #8 · answered by Kacky 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think its not the number of mentally ill people that's changed, its the number of diagnosable mental disorders that's gone up.
2006-11-24 23:13:48 · answer #9 · answered by nikki 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we have too many pharmaceutical company's pushing too many drugs to doctors. And doctors are being pushed by the patient who see this crap on the tele.
Just my opinion.
2006-11-24 16:47:59 · answer #10 · answered by wmf936 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋