Today, more and more Americans are suffering from mental health issues such as depression and chronic fatigue. A study published in the journal Psychiatric Services, estimated that more than 8 million Americans suffer from a serious psychological distress otherwise known as SPD.
This term describes the feeling of depression, worthlessness, and sadness that can cause an impairment to the overall physical well-being of a person. Many of these people who suffer from SPD lack the treatment needed to help them recover and many of them don’t have the insurance to pay for their treatment.
In many ways, mental health is like physical health. Everyone is impacted by it and we all need to recognize its importance.
If you find yourself going through a period of poor mental health, you can often find it more difficult to think, feel, react, and even to cope with life itself. This can lead to a feeling of having a physical illness or even worse.
Mental health problems affect around one in four people each year. Common mental health problems are depression and anxiety and more severe are bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
How it is impacting everyone from adults to teens:
Experiencing any mental health issue can be frustrating, confusing, and alarming. You may feel weak or feel that you are losing your mind.
Many of these fears are often reinforced by the negative (often unrealistic) way that people experience their mental health issues shown on social media, T.V. shows, and movies.
This impact may prevent you from speaking to someone or seeking help. This can lead you to feel isolated and can likely lead to an increase of distress.
Mental health is important for everyone, no matter the age or gender difference. A study published in the Clinical Psychological Science, found that many teenagers, especially adolescent girls that spend more time on their screen devices were higher to show signs of depression and suicidal ideation than those teenagers who spent less time on their screen activities.
Those who spend less time on the internet and social media sites are less likely to suffer from mental illness. These individuals would rather spend their time outdoors, playing sports, reading books, having in person conversations, exercising, spending more family time together, and being more focused.
Results of this increase in mental health issues:
Mental health problems can be a great burden to an individual’s overall well-being. Many can often find themselves lacking the right treatment due to poor access or not having health insurance coverage.
An exposure to stressful daily activities, social media, poor living conditions, an inadequate diet, not getting enough exercise and other contributing factors may have an impact over mental health. Many of these suffering individuals are not able to afford psychiatric treatment so many turn to substances to cope.
Substance abuse is a very dangerous path and impacts many lives in a negative way. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen are consumed in high amounts in the United States.
According to the Medscape journal, over 30 billion doses of nonsterodial anti-inflammatory drugs (NASAIDs) are consumed by Americans annually.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, over 25 billion doses of acetaminophen are sold every year in over-the-counter purchases. Acetaminophen drugs include, Tylenol, FeverAll, Children’s Pain Reliver, Ofirmev, Mapap, Acephen, Nortemp, and more.
Regular consumption of NSAIDs can increase risk of heart disease, may cause gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers, and may increase blood pressure.
Over-the-counter pain relief medications come with risk factors and side effects and should be discussed with your health care provider when use extends past the recommended time frame per label.
An overview of psychology and how it could help mental health:
Technology is still evolving in the psychology field where neuroscience and molecular biology work together. The advance of future psychology technology is still unclear, but is expected to have the benefiting tools to discover more practical applications to help better understand cognitive disorders in the mental health field.
An example of a technology device used today is called deep brain stimulation. This tool helps to improve an individual’s mental health by using electrodes to deliver controlled shocks to the brain in specific areas.
Researchers believe that this device helps stimulate the production of certain chemicals which can help those who are suffering cognitive disorders. The future of psychology will heavily rely on technology to help those who suffer mental health problems.
Psychologist work in a field of interventions to help individuals cope with their depression, anxiety, pain, life-threatening illness, medical interventions, and medicine side effects interventions.
Psychologists are highly trained individuals that provide services to all individuals no matter their age or race. The suicide rate among young African American men has nearly doubled since 1980. Many individuals living in rural or poorer areas face challenges on having access to health care facilities and getting the treatment that they need.
Psychologists are and will continue their research to solve tough challenges relating to diversity and mental health treatment. The help of future technologies will become a very impactful way to help those in need suffering from mental health problems.
Photo Credit
Photo is pixabay creative commons
Deep brain stimulation – Wikimedia creative commons
Guest Author Bio
Sarah Daren
With a Bachelor’s in Health Science along with an MBA, Sarah Daren has a wealth of knowledge within both the health and business sectors. Her expertise in scaling and identifying ways tech can improve the lives of others has led Sarah to be a consultant for a number of startup businesses, most prominently in the wellness industry, wearable technology and health education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life with a focus on making America a healthier and safer place for future generations to come.
[…] an example of how others should support one another who suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental illness — these conversations are so typically swept under the […]