One of my frequent ponderings is on the subject of mental and societal health [I believe that they go hand-in-hand]. I'm hardly an expert or very well read on the subject, but I do try to follow the current events pertaining to it. Of course, this is something I have personally struggled with and something a lot of people I know have struggled with - it is a reality I must confront.
There is little doubt, mental illness is definitely a problem. here are some details from the WHO website: [N.B: DALYs = Disability Adjusted Life Year = The sum of years of potential life lost due to premature mortality and the years of productive life lost due to disability.]
Depression is the leading cause of disability as measured by YLDs and the 4th leading contributor to the global burden of disease (DALYs) in 2000. By the year 2020, depression is projected to reach 2nd place of the ranking of DALYs calcuated for all ages, both sexes. Today, depression is already the 2nd cause of DALYs in the age category 15-44 years for both sexes combined.
Depression occurs in persons of all genders, ages, and backgrounds.
Facts
- Depression is common, affecting about 121 million people worldwide.
- Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
- Depression can be reliably diagnosed and treated in primary care.
- Fewer than 25 % of those affected have access to effective treatments.
So, we're seeing huge costs because of mental illness in the world and it's expected to get worse. However, there is still a stifling stigma that surrounds it. I have read many articles that describe this as a 'barrier to treatment' for things as diverse as alcoholism to general anxiety disorders, I find these disturbing, but the fact that 'fewer than 25% of those suffering from depression have access to treatment' is just scary - this is a curable disease and we are in the midst of an 'epidemic'. Something has to be done, depression is arguably a contagious condition and it severely impacts society's progress [This applies across the spectrum: a scientist curing cancer and a farmer growing crops can both be equally impaired by depression. (check out Dr. Sherwin Nuland's experience)]
As is often the case, science is trying to catch up. We still don't know the exact cause of depression and it's a tricky issue. In my opinion, one of the major factors for my generation is the all-or-nothing mentality that accompanies academics [see: cognitive distortions]. From a young age, we learn that we must be better than everyone to succeed - we must compete, we must win, only those at the top matter, go big or go home, etc, etc, etc....
Our happiness and fulfillment in life fall to the bottom of the priority list. Education has lost its' holistic approach to personal growth and society has followed suit. [I acknowledge that this is a very generalised statement, however the presence of 'grade inflation' and increasing mental illness in my age bracket lead me to believe that it is a valid point for a significant demographic]
Personally, I think one of the first steps we need to take is to adopt a more holistic philosophy of success. It isn't possible for all of us to be on the far end of the bell-curve, it is an unrealistic and unhealthy expectation. We need to start valuing happiness and mental health more - I argue that a happier society will also be more productive and innovative. [Check out a TED talk on A kinder, gentler philosophy of success]
Thanks for reading.
Cheers!
I agree man. The world could use a little less competition and a little more solidarity. It's a weird vortex we students get pulled into; a lot of the times we don't really know why or for what reason or to what ends. What someone else does is of no business of my own so long as it causes no harm. Other people can inspire, but if they cause envy, then we have a problem.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like schools these days are pumping out numbers (not that numbers aren't something to be sought after, something with meaning in their own right) and not people. Sometimes we forget that people are the basic units of society; in order to educate people, we should educate people- as one on one as is possible. I believe that happiness is not found in action, nor thought, nor belief, nor idea, etc but in people. We should view people as people, not simply an aggregate of atoms performing a task.
Maybe I'm rambling now but in short, it seems that people are depressed (and I am extremely uninformed on the matter; this being observational) for a main reason that they are not aware of what is going on around and within and most importantly why. Happiness seems to stem from a constant flow of momentary vindication of one's efforts. And what use, I wonder, are these efforts if they are squandered in loneliness; what use is a number, a letter, or a quantity, no matter how grand, if all it shows is the number itself? It's like you make the perfect cookie- perfect texture, chewiness, impeccable chocolate to cookie ratio, a little dark but not too so- and eat it alone going over the recipe again and again in your head like a madman trying to find meaning where there is none, "2 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 8 tablespoons butter, 2 1/4 cups flour..." (This is a dank recipe by the way [325 for 8-10 mmmm]) The meaning is in the cookie yo! Eat it and enjoy it. Or else its sad and lonely, and a little bit depressing.