Are there more people suffering Mental health problems now?

Question

Or is awareness and the near removal of the stigma the real reason for the increase?





http://talkingminds.15.forumer.com/

Answer 1

I don't believe there is an increase in the slightest. A while ago, anyone suffering any type of mental illness (depression, anxiety, etc.) was locked up in desolate, cruel institutions and nobody dared whisper a word about 'them'. We all have some form of mental illness, no matter how you look at it.

Awareness does not mean the subjects themselves have increased and, unfortunately, doesn't mean the 'stigma' is anywhere near removed. It is just discussed more. I hope to God that through awareness people attempt to educate themselves on mental disabilities.

Someone who has never tried it should not put down the 'therapy culture'. It is insulting, demeaning, and biased. There has been an increase in programs to help those that run the gamut from severe mental disability to suffering minor depression. If anything, because of the research, the help, and the acceptance, mental illness has been declining. Those who cannot understand it should educate themselves. Your view is based on what your parents told you, for the most part, not on your own free thought.

Good question, good site.

Answer 2

good question. I think it's a bit of both..............


We now live in a disposable world where if we don't want something, we throw it.........it could be absolutely fine but we dispose of it. Whether it's material or a partner, we want something better.

We then get that new thing/partner and that's not good enough either.......so we're left searching. But you know what? We can't find the sodding thing we're looking for................so we get depressed and down in the dumps....

....the term 'mental health' gathers these seekers but ask your parents or parents' parents what they did....they coped and stayed together and didn't obsess with materialistic things as much as today.

There are genuine suffers of depression and there are people that feel 'down'...........life is not easy, we all know that but it's how we deal with what is thrown at us. Unless it's clinical depression and there is a real imbalance in the brain, it's possible for people to work themselves out of this negative state. It's not easy, but it's possible but it takes hard work.....because we want things NOW, we don't have the patience to wait........

It's good that we are more open as a society but sometimes this helps to breed our emotional nanny state........we need to toughen up a bit............

Answer 3

I think the number of people with mental health problems has always been quite high - people are just more informed now. Doctors use to hand out valium like sweets years ago, so there must have been a lot of stressed and depressed people about. Each generation has had its own challenges.

Answer 4

People realise now that it is better to talk to people who understand, and not bottle things up.

The link you've offered is to a great site, anyone wanting to talk to other people suffering with mental health problems should check it out :)

Answer 5

the better of you are, the more time you have to look at your self. that's why California has the most practising psychologists, as economies get better, people get richer. depression and other mental illnesses increase

Answer 6

people are more open now than they used ot be, its just another word for people feeling unhappy.

Answer 7

It's a ruse by mental health "professionals" and phamacutical companies, to drug the nation, and make the upcoming generations dependant on mind altering drugs. It's all crap!!

I'M sad, Here take this pill.
My son won't listen, Here give him this pill.

Crap I say Crap

Answer 8

no, i think that people are just talking about these problem now

Answer 9

I don't think so, it's that there are more names to behaviour now than there ever was.

Answer 10

awareness, and honesty. plus americans lopve talking about themselves. so therapy culture.