(Newswire.net — November 14, 2018) — A mental health crisis is unfolding almost everywhere in the U.S. Tragically, suicide is sometimes the result. A devastating suicide report published by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that suicide rates increased in 49 states.
According to the authors, “suicide is an issue not only for the mentally ill but for anyone struggling with serious life problems.” In other words, socio-economics, cultural identity, and the ongoing opioid epidemic are all likely contributors.
At the heart of this suicide epidemic is undiagnosed or untreated mental-health issues. Understanding some of the addiction and mental health concerns connected to suicide and taking proactive action are vital to successfully mending the mind and helping people to lead better, happier, and more satisfying lives..
Opioids contribute to mental illnesses
Opioid use is a clear contributor to mental health struggles. Unfortunately, there are indicators that the situation continues to deteriorate across the country. The US Department of Health and Human Services announced a public health emergency just last year and plans to devote further resources to curb opioid abuse.
Public-health specialists have outlined a new five-point strategy to combat the problem. Some of the initiatives detailed are more reactive (e.g., distributing drugs to reverse an overdose) whereas others are more proactive (e.g., enhance pain management practices, etc.).
Promising as those tactics might be, compelling evidence illustrate that when it comes to opioid addiction things are liable to get worse before they get better. For example, according to Scott Weiner, an emergency medicine physician and researcher for Harvard Health, reverse-overdose drugs such as Naloxone help to combat deaths by opioids, but they are not the solution for addressing the underlying problems.
“An opioid overdose patient who sobers in the hallway, is offered a detox list, and then is discharged has a one-in-10 chance of being dead within a year,” Weiner explains. “And the highest risk is within one month. Naloxone is an important tool in fighting the opioid crisis but is no solution. Patients who survive opioid overdose should be considered extremely high-risk.”
Weiner stresses the importance of identifying the mental-health issues at work in combating opioid use and its impact on mental health. It’s only when those struggling with opioid addiction are able to recognize the underlying struggles and seek treatment that they will overcome their health concerns. Simply reversing the overdose itself isn’t enough to enact change.
Some mental-health issues are not widely covered
The stigma surrounding mental illness and behavioral therapy is also a considerable impediment. Graham Davey, Ph.D., discussed the subject in Psychology Today.
“There are still attitudes within most societies that view symptoms of psychopathology as threatening or uncomfortable,” he explained. “These attitudes frequently foster stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health problems.” The most concerning part is that everyone is susceptible to mental health struggles, yet only a fraction seek the aid they need.
One such damaging attitude surrounds the LGBTQ community. In one study, authors interviewed a group of youth who identified as LGBTQ to ascertain their biggest challenges in mental health. The authors wrote “identified family rejection of sexual orientation, extrafamilial LGB-related victimization, and non-LGB-related negative family life events as the most common causes of psychological distress,”, detailing that few found the support they needed to overcome these resulting mental-health issues.
“Several clinically relevant considerations emerged from the interviews, including youths’ wishes that parents were more accepting, and a willingness to participate in family therapy with their parents,” the authors continued.
These attitudes often make it difficult for LGBTQ peopleto seek treatment and support. Fortunately, some communities have and continue to adapt in response to the predicament. Open and welcoming hubs like Washington, D.C., have LGBT friendly therapists and grassroots chapters of allies that offer a wide range of support to those who are struggling.
Access to mental-health services is a problem
Today, the discussions surrounding mental health treatment are more open than ever before. Yet, one the bigger concerns is being able to access it. In a study on overcoming mental health obstacles published in the journal Current Psychiatry Reports, the authors stated:
“Common mental disorders are responsible for the largest proportion of the global burden of disease; yet, there is sound evidence that these disorders, as well as severe mental disorders, can be successfully treated using evidence-based interventions delivered by trained lay health workers in low-resource community or primary care settings. Globally, the majority of those who need mental-health care worldwide lack access to high-quality mental health services.”
Whether individuals suffering from mental health concerns are in a developing country where help is not readily available, or they’re considered poverty-stricken, they may not have access to adequate health services. Those who live in a rural area may also be unable to access mental health care services relating to a specific need, such as LGBTQ therapy. This is a growing concern that should be addressed globally.
The U.S. and societies abroad remain at risk of long-term struggle and unnecessary suffering if they don’t address mental health in a more systematic and cogent manner. There is no justification for neglecting something so crucial to daily life. The onus is on payors (e.g., insurance companies in the US), scientists, medical and mental health practitioners, and policymakers to implement concerted change. It is our responsibility as members of society to question the status quo and influence how people view mental health. Only if we work together can positive change take place.