Mental Health News

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October 10th marked the 14th annual Mental Health Day, heralded by the UN World Health Organization.  This year’s theme was “Building Awareness: reducing risks- mental illness and suicide.”

Observations and events took place all over the world, from the U.S. to Singapore.  The importance here is that the world is taking an active role in learning how to diagnose, support and ease mental illness and suicide across all cultures.

With more support, care, and activism, a global understanding of the nature of mental health deficiencies can be achieved.  And with this understanding comes a new platform for reaching cures so that invidividuals facing mental health issues can reclaim a normal and functioning life for themselves again.

A study by Dr. Susmita Parashar addressed the risks of trivializing depression in a person who has suffered from a heart attack.

Depression symptoms are not normal following a heart attack, with them occurring in only 26.5% of the population suffering from cardiac arrest.  However, all of the patients in this study who reported feelings of depression were either re-hospitalized or died in the six months following the initial attack.  Not only this, but they had a lower quality of life, had more chest pain and more disability.

Whether it’s a cause or an affect, depression coupled with cardiac problems is a potentially fatal combination and should by all means be treated or discussed with a doctor.

The Arc of Pennsylvania is a group that works towards having people with mental retardation participate in various areas of society.  From civil and social areas to educational and employement.  They encourage people with mental retardation to partcipate in various activities in the communities that they live in.  The Arc has recently seen an increasing need in mental health workers, but the funding for many programs have been cut.  The Arch has been busy passing out petitions and getting the necessary signatures to achieve a cost of living adjustment increase in budgets for mental health providers.

 The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the bill and are awaiting a vote.  Most politicians are recognizing the need for workers to have a raise as the profession is challenging physically, emotionally and mentally.  Many workers have worked for years without ever seeing a raise in their wages and many feel it is time for that to change.

Researchers have finally found an opening to understanding Trichotillomania, a compulsive disorder affecting 3 to 5 percent of the population, which involves pulling hair out.  Sufferers tend to show signs with bald patches and hair loss.  At least two genetic mutations appear to be present in people with the psychiatric disorder.  People with Trichotillomania have high incidence rates of depression, OCD,  anxiety and Tourette syndrome.  While there is now a genetic trace, the onset is most likely still triggered by life experiences.  The good news here is that this opens the door for more genetic research for the causes of psychiatric disorders.