Mental Health News

Past research has almost always shown that twice as many white persons will attempt suicide than African American.  New findings show that this is no longer the case.  The study showed that “The first nationally representative study to look at attempted suicide among blacks found that about 70,000 of them try to kill themselves each year and 4 percent, or roughly 1.4 million, attempt suicide at least once in their lives.  That lifetime rate is similar to that of whites but higher than the 2.8 percent found among blacks in previous surveys.” 

The study went on to note a very big difference between white and African American suicide issues.  “While depression is strongly tied to suicidal behavior in whites, anxiety disorders were more common than depression in blacks who attempted suicide in the study. That is an important racial difference that could alert doctors to black patients who might be contemplating suicide.” 

Regardless of the trigger, education and awareness remain very important factors to prevention.  If you know someone who may be contemplating suicide, or who you are worried about in this way, do not try to take matters into your own hands.  Get professional help and advice. 

In Perth, Australia, apparently there has long been neglect of the mentally ill, and the government is finally building much-needed facilities to help non-violent, non-drug-abusing mentally ill patients suffering from bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia. Neighbors are up in arms.

What are they afraid of, that some depressed person will come be glum on their lawn?

I would have hoped civilized people in the 21st century would be more sensible, and more sensitive. Maybe they should remember that Australia was settled by convicts, and they turned out okay.

We, as humans, recognize that people need both physical and emotional environment to maintain our health.  For example, when we have sniffles or a sore throat we recognize a cold is threatening our physical well-being and we take steps to prevent it.  Yet, we don’t seem to ever recognize when we are at risk emotionally.  By taking a minute to assess our emotional health, we could provide ourselves with the opportunity to prevent a breakdown.  Look at how you are living.  If you find yourself continuously living at the beck and call of someone else and their needs, you are at risk.  If you find yourself continuously looking for the competition between you and someone else, you are at risk.  If you can’t listen or appreciate time with others because you simply don’t care what they have to say to you, you are at risk. 

Looking internally and admitting that we have room for improvement in ourselves is a difficult step to take.  However, it is also a very important one.  By recognizing risk factors, we put ourselves in a better position to protect ourselves from mental drains and breakdowns in the same way we immunize from other illnesses — and this, can be a very good thing.

Today, the day after Thanksgiving, musicians in Austin, Texas are giving something back to the musical community and improving mental health for their fellow musicians. Artists ranging from people I’ve never heard of to Kris Kristofferson have put together a CD which will be sold for a limited time through a local radio station, and all of the proceeds go to the SIMS Foundation, an organizaton which provides low-cost mental health care for Austin musicians and their families.

On a day when all I seem to be hearing about is people standing in line to buy stuff they don’t need, it’s nice to hear about people helping other people who are truly in need.

At the same time, it’s a shame that in this country, in the 21st century, people go without healthcare, of any kind, because of money.

Maybe we should all buy that CD.

Regardless of the personal way you celebrate the upcoming holidays, the bottom line is that the “tis the season” time has come.  Whether it’s a family get together, an office party, or a random friend having all the gang over, chances are that along with good friends, good family, and good food, there is going to be a lot of drinking.  As the dysfunction and stress of the holidays gets into full swing take notice of how much you may be partaking at these functions.  In addition, be aware of any of your co-workers or friends who may be struggling with recovery from substance abuse issues.  Be the better person and take stock in those around you who may need a friend drinking a soda, ice water, or even a cup of coffee.  Be willing to be a support system to those walking on the edge of the slippery slope between recovery and relapse.  Your help may make the difference between the two.

Each year, the end of daylight savings time seems to be the beginning of my own personal struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  The days become darker earlier and they stay that way longer — or at least it seems that way.  It’s dark until just before I go to work and it’s already dark when I leave.  My symptoms include sudden mood changes for no apparent reason, fatigue, headaches, inability to sleep and lots of food cravings — sweets, starches, just about anything — I want it!  Normally January and February are the worst months, but as the body clock starts the shift here at the end of November and beginning of December, I really start to see the effects within myself and others.  These symptoms are not, like so many people want to believe, just a part of the winter blues.  They can be very serious, especially in young people and women.  Children can (and do) suffer from SAD and if you aren’t familiar with the symptoms, their behavior could just be seen as being episodes of insubordination or worse.  Be sure to watch your children for overall symptoms before assuming that their irratiblity and anger comes solely from childhood angst.  Their behavior could contain warning signs of the disorder.  Really, when you get right down to it, the same goes for anyone you love.  Take note if they seem to have a harder time with daily functions during the months that have larger amounts of darkness or gloom they may need help. 

Treatments for SAD are a bit varied.  There have been excellent results from using photo therapy or bright light therapy in order to “trick” the brain to suppress melatonin secretion.  It only takes 30-60 minutes a day to have positive results.  However, studies do show that a daily sixty-minute walk during the daylight hours in the winter is more effective than three times that much light therapy and the exercise counteracts the subsequences of the food cravings.  Professional help may be also be needed.  In severe cases of SAD anti-depressants may be indicated as necessary to control the symptoms. 

There is no cure for SAD, but as noted above there are treatments to keep the disorder in check until Spring returns.  Take note of the symptoms and the treatments and be prepared to recognize them. Like all things that cause or influence depression, SAD can be a serious disorder with catastrophic results if not recognized and treated.  Awareness is the key.  As I said before, the ending of daylight savings time is my own personal milepost to warn me that the amount of daylight available to me and my brain is starting to shift and I had better be prepared.  This little reminder seems to help me stay focused, balanced, and healthy throughout the doom and gloom of winter, may it also help you. 

A new study shows that many Hispanics in the U.S. know very little about mental illness, and that most agree being taught the warning signs would be beneficial to them.

I agree. But I don’t limit it to Hispanics, or any cultural group in the US. Not just Hispanics, or Chinese, or Koreans, or African Americans. Not just anyone.

Everyone.

There is far too little awareness of mental illness in this country, and even less in other countries.

We’re not going anywhere. We have mental illnesses. We’re living in this world, and we’re going to continue to live here. We are part of the world, and for the most part, we’re an active, contributing part. More of us could be active and contributing to the world, and ourselves, if more people understood that mental illness is really no different than any illness. It must be treated, and it must be accepted as just something we deal with.

So yes, let’s teach warning signs of mental illness. Let’s also teach that it is not something to be ashamed of, and that it makes us who we are. I know I would not be the person I am, the creative force I am, without my illness. Do I like the illness? No, of course not, but I can live with it.

And I think more people could live successfully with their mental illness if more information was widely available.

According to the New Zealand Herald, researchers have discovered that people who are “sensitive” to anxiety symptoms are more likely to develop anxiety disorders. Okay. So if you notice you’re anxious, you’re more likely to be anxious? Seems to me that this is pretty intuitive stuff, actually. Getting anxious makes you anxious. You worry about anxiety if you get anxious a lot; of course you do. And then you get more anxious…I wonder how much they paid for this study?

One of the big buzzwords in the medical research arena is Polyphenols.  Polyphenols found in red wine may help cancer, the ones located in green tea seem to help with menopause, the list goes on an on.  So why am I bringing this up on a Mental Health update?  Because, studies continue to confirm that the onset of dementia and even perhaps Alzheimer’s can be prevented by a daily consumption of foods high in polyphenols.  Cumin and cinnamon are specifically noted as having extraordinarily high amounts of polyphenols but other food rich in the miracle wonder include fruits (grapes and blueberries), green tea, fish, olive oil, wine, nuts and legumes.  

Another possibility if the above foods aren’t something you would normally partake of  — consider drinking fruit and/or vegetable juices.  Three or more servings of fruit and vegetable juice a WEEK (not a day) gave a 76 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease over those who drank less than one serving and even 2-3 times a week reduced the risk by 16%.    So drink up!  The mind you save may very well be your own.

Scientists have isolated a gene, present in people with mental illness, that makes a particular part of the brain (the pulvinar) larger, and this in turn may be responsible for a greater presence of negative emotions.

Without going into all the medical research, I will say it is clear that finally there is proof that psychological illness is physical. Of course it always has been physical; a chemical imbalance is a physical problem, and medications would not correct it if it were primarily “mental,” as the moniker mental illness implies.

I love the quote, “Of COURSE mental illness is all in your head, where else would it be?” And now we have proof.