Mental Health is One of the Most Under Treated Diseases

The world is sad when we learn of actors that have taken their own lives. On an average 121 people commit suicide daily.

Mental health is one of the most under treated diseases in our country. Men are 3.5 times higher at ending their lives then women.

Many symptoms of depression are over looked by family members. In Children bullying is the most common reason they commit suicide.

Someone telling you they are going to end their life is not a cry for attention. Something is really wrong and they need help. Don't over look these symptoms because even if they don't succeed this time doesn't mean they won't the next time.

The average age of suicide victims is men who are middle aged.

Mental illness strikes without regard for economic class, but the strain is acute for people with low incomes. About one in six adults living at just above the poverty line or lower has severe mental health problems. Without access to affordable treatment, many have a hard time holding down a job yet do not qualify as formally disabled, thus leaving them locked out from insurance coverage. A recent large study in California found that only 32 percent of uninsured residents with mental illnesses received any treatment at all and that less than 12 percent got adequate help.

Sadness is a very common emotion and something we all experience. These feelings are normal, especially when dealing with difficult times in life and they will typically pass with little time. When a person has depression, it affects their daily life. Doctors refer to this condition as "depressive disorder" or "clinical depression." There are many different types of depression including major depressive disorder, melancholia, antenatal or perinatal depression, dysthymia and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), to name a few. Depression is a sad but real illness and is by no means a sign of one's character. If diagnosed with clinical depression, most people will need treatment to get better.

Sometimes we worry so much about our own family, that we don't see the whole picture. I have suffered with depression and anxiety my entire adult life. I am one of the lucky ones that has health insurance. I don't know where I would be if I was not insured.

You should know the signs of depression so that if you work with someone that may be having a hard time, you could offer them some advice. You can't make anyone get treated but you can offer support and let them know you care.

It is very hard for a care giver of someone who suffers from mental illness. They need support also not just the family member who is ill.

Signs of Depression

• Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood
• Always feeling something is wrong
• Frequently avoiding certain places or things
• Drinking or using drugs excessivly
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities, including sex
• Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Low appetite and weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and pain for which no other cause can be diagnosed.

Symptoms of Anxiety:

• Pounding or racing heart
• Having stomachaches or nausea
• Having trouble falling asleep or getting a good night’s rest
• You might also have symptoms that impact your emotions, thoughts, or behavior
• Feeling restless
• Feeling on edge or keyed up
• Being angry or irritable
• Worrying a lot about everyday decisions
• Fearing that something bad is going to happen
• Becoming easily distracted
• Having difficulty concentrating
• Feeling like your mind goes blank
• Finding it hard to do your work or normal activities
• Focusing on what isn't going wrong and doing drugs to numb your feelings

If you or a family member are having signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression and it last more then a few weeks, you need to get help as soon as possilble.

If you don't have insurance there are resources in your community. There are usually help lines open 24 hours a day that you can call.

If you feel like taking your own life or if someone in your family does, please don't wait and think it is going to go away. You may save your own life or theirs.

Depression is real and no you just don't get over it. It doesn't go away after a good nights sleep or after a drinking binge or drugs.

It is there to stay and you need help. When you see the amount of people who have mental illness and it is not treated because of insurance reasons, it is time to get your senators and congress men and women on the wagon to help promote awareness.

Don't let a treatable condition ruin your life. Sometimes it takes more then one drug to get you back to feeling well. Sometimes it is just one drug. It is worth it and you are worth it to get the help you need.

It's time to take care of you.

Clinical trials are a great way to help others. There are many different trials for new medications for depression and anxiety. These trials can be found at the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Clinical trials often pay you for your time and travel it can be a stipen up to $1,000 or more depending on what they are testing. You will recieve free study related office visits and medications also. Some people may get a placebo and some the real medication but you testing it would be in addition to your medications you are taking.

Clinical trials have helped many people who don't have insurance and can get the medication at no cost to them. It also helps drug companies learn possible side affects of the medications.

You don't know until the trial is over if you did in fact recieve the real medication. It is a risk but so is not doing it.

Do not wait to get help if your depression and anxiety last more the a few weeks. We all cry the blues sometimes but when you are depressed for a long time you are cheating yourself out of feeling better.

When you go to your annual exam, if you are depressed or experiencing anxiety) mention it to your doctor. He will take if from there and get you on the road to happiness.

Active Beat by Katherine Roberts (1/2017) www.activebeat.com/to your health

National Institute of Mental Health (10/2016) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

Active Beat by By: Debbie McGauran (10/2016)