‘Health is wealth’ is an old adage, but not many people tend to follow it. Considering the busy lifestyle and hectic schedules, people often ignore their health, especially mental health. Due to the stigma associated with mental health issues, men very conveniently try to keep these problems within wraps, instead of seeking help. Even if not associated with sins of past lives, black magic or result of poor deeds, they are frequently linked with weak moral, lack of willpower and disturbed lifestyle. Continue reading →

Several past studies had established that an individual with a mental health issue is more likely to commit or attempt suicide. However, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of the people who committed suicide in 27 states of the United States in 2015 had never been diagnosed with any mental ailment. The report also mentioned that the overall suicide rates increased by more than 30 percent in nearly half of the country during 1999-2016. Continue reading →

The standard of mental health care in European countries is quite low, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO). Of the more than 2000 ratings made by national assessment teams, only 25 percent of the institutions spread across the continent conformed to international standards of care – in spite of the fact that nearly 27 percent of the adult population (between 18-65 years) in Europe experienced at least one of a series of mental disorders in the past year. Continue reading →

The state of mental health is tied to a great degree to the level of pain a person experiences. Those who have a sounder mental health are likely to recuperate easily and experience less pain on a day-to-day basis compared to those who are suffering from mental ailments. People who have a mental health condition complain of pain in various body parts and fret when things do not go their way. They could also have a nagging pain similar to a migraine pain. Continue reading →

With the hope of making a difference in the lives of people dealing with mental health problems, 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps recently announced his partnership with Talkspace, an online and mobile therapy company that helps connect therapists to those in need. “I feel like with all the issues we have in this world, this is something where I can truly make significant impact,” said the 32-year-old retired competitive swimmer. Continue reading →

On evaluating the revisions introduced in the upcoming 11^th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), a study led by the New York University (NYU) School of Medicine has identified that the proposed changes are against the interest of patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the study, the revisions, if implemented, would lead to a decline in the number of individuals coming under the ambit of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a result, the reduction in diagnosis of moderate or early stage PTSD may reduce by up to 57 per cent. Continue reading →

A healthy and nutritious diet, including raw fruits and vegetables, is known to prevent various physical ailments, but one may wonder whether it can also benefit one’s mental health. Now, a recent research by the Department of Psychology in University of Otago, New Zealand, puts all such doubts to rest and says that consuming raw fruits and vegetables can help improve one’s mental health and provide relief from the symptoms of an existing mental illness. Continue reading →

The gruesome killing of 10 innocent people in broad daylight has sent the Toronto city in a state of shock and grief. Alek Minassian, a 25-year-old student at Toronto’s Seneca College, killed 10 people and injured 15 others after driving his rental van into a crowd of pedestrians at Yonge Street, north of downtown Toronto, on April 23, 2018. Out of those injured, four are reported to be critical. Though the motive of the incident remains unknown, Minassian has been identified as someone with a history of mental illness. The police is investigating the matter further. Continue reading →

A barely clothed man, wearing nothing but a green jacket, approached Waffle House restaurant in Antioch on Sunday and used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle to kill two people outside the restaurant. He then went inside the building and continued firing, killing two more and injuring few others till a patron, James Shaw Jr., was able to wrestle the weapon away from the gunman. Continue reading →

The grief related to the death of a loved one often remains at the back of one’s mind for a long time, and it can go on to affect one’s mental health. But for expectant mothers, the high stress level due to the death of a close relative may have an effect on the next generation, according to researchers from the Stanford University who tried to examine the impact of the loss on the mental health of a child in later stages of life. Continue reading →