The mental health situation is changing drastically throughout the world.
On one hand, more and more people are becoming aware of the problem itself. More people are beginning to talk openly about mental health problems, and therapy is becoming an increasingly acceptable option for people with mental health problems, regardless of any perceived stigma.
Despite this, however, mental health problems are still on the rise across the globe. Regardless of what The Guardian says, it’s widespread enough to consider it an epidemic, even if it’s not “technically” considered one. Many countries – particularly the US – are experiencing hefty increases in the amount of mental health cases being diagnosed.
This is one of the reasons that we, as a collective, need to recognize that therapy is incredibly important and should be discussed openly and honestly among everyone.
Worsening Mental Health Situation
Mental health statistics are getting worse every year.
In England, for example, more and more youth are becoming depressed, with a 2.2% increase in the number of depressed youth observed in the last two decades.
The situation is particularly dire in the United States, however. In fact, the US is currently the world leader in the amount of depressed people, with more than 50% of the population having reported some form of depression during their lives. 61.9% of American youth between the ages of 16 and 24 also report some degree of anxiety.
These worsening mental health statistics are easily observed in the United States. All one has to do is notice the increasing prevalence of violence – school shootings, murders, and police brutality – and a stark increase in suicides.
In fact, the American suicide rate increased 24% between 1999 and 2014, from 10.5 to 13 suicides per 100,000 people.
What to Do About the Situation
These statistics are shocking but focusing on the problem doesn’t help. What we need to do is focus on the solution. While more and more people are becoming aware of the situation and beginning to discuss mental illness, we still need to work together as a collective to help improve the problem.
- Be honest. It’s incredibly important to be honest – not just with yourself, but with others. The truth is, almost all of us have had some traumatic or unpleasant experiences that have made marks on our mental health. We need to openly and honestly address these issues so that we can begin to heal.
- Talk more. Don’t be afraid to tell others about your struggles with mental health. Having the confidence to do this might encourage other people to open up. The recent slew of celebrities coming clean about their mental health issues has helped huge numbers of people begin to recognize and seek help for their problems. You should encourage people to look for a therapist in their neighborhood. By talking more openly, you’re showing that therapy isn’t something to be ashamed of.
- Be supportive. We’re all human, and we all need love and support. Offering love and support to those that you care about, as well as learning to love and care about yourself, are all incredibly important things for helping to bring awareness to mental health.
These are just a few of the ideas that we can adopt as a collective to help encourage the improvement of the mental health situation. If you have any further ideas, feel free to share them and implement them on your own!
To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.
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