...Mental Illness: Depression Phill S. Reg University of Phoenix Online HCA 240 July 20, 2014 Mental Illness: Depression Many American suffer from a form of mental illness. When you look at the statistics, it is quite alarming just how many Americans suffer from a mental illness. It is estimated that 26.2 percent of the American population from the ages of 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental illness (NIH, n.d). This is an astounding number to consider. If you do the math, that means that approximately 1 out of 4 Americans has a mental illness. We will discuss the mental illness of depression for this discussion. One of the most common mental illnesses in America is depression. A large number of Americans live with depression undiagnosed and untreated. What is Depression? “Over 9 million American adults suffer from clinical depression each year” (Stanford School of Medicine, 2014). Why does depression affect so many people? Let us first define depression. Most people would probably consider depression as being sad. However, clinical depression goes much deeper than just feeling sad. “Depression is a persistent state that can significantly impair an individual's thoughts, behavior, daily activities, and physical health” (Stanford School of Medicine, 2014). People who are diagnosed with depression will usually receive psychological assistance as well as regular prescriptions of some sort. The History of Depression “Melancholia” was...
Words: 1515 - Pages: 7
...The stigma surrounding mental health adversely affects people with mental illnesses and it has continuously been an issue in the United States. According to Amy Sickel, Jason Seacat, and Nina Nabors, “Nearly half of American adults are likely to experience a mental disorder during their lifetime” (202). Yet, as stated by Susan Abbey and other members of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, the stigma and discrimination based on race and gender has decreased significantly in the last century while it remains prevalent for people with mental illness (1). “Stigma marks a person as different and devalued” (Abbey et al. 2). Many studies show that increased mental health stigma contributes to decreased self-esteem and lower self-efficacy. This...
Words: 350 - Pages: 2
...Individuals that are chronically homeless represent a range of individual vulnerabilities and face a many of systematic barriers that impede accessing adequate housing and services. Current economic climate presents the chance for homelessness to remain high (Coalition for the Homeless, 2002a). According to research, a substantial reduction in the occurrence of chronic homelessness could be achieved by linking affordable housing with treatment and support services. Alcohol and substance abuse is known as both a precipitating factor and consequence of homelessness can effect an individual’s ability to retain housing or limit housing options offered by programs requiring sobriety, and mask underlying or related mental health issues undetected or untreated in addiction treatment programs (Zerger, 2002). Individuals who have co-occurring disorders (COD) are particularly vulnerable to homelessness caused by more severe psychiatric symptoms, self-medication with drugs and alcohol, and frequent contact with the criminal justice system. Typically, once homeless, individuals with COD will have greater problems, need more help and are more...
Words: 1250 - Pages: 5
...depression d) Share findings about college depression e) Specifically, i) What is depression (SLIGHT PAUSE) ii) what causes depression (SLIGHT PAUSE) iii) how to identify symptoms of depression (SLIGHT PAUSE) iv) and finally where to seek help for depression 2) Body f) National Institute of Mental Health, “Depression is a common but serious mental illness typically marked by sad or anxious feelings. Most college students occasionally feel sad or anxious, but these emotions usually pass quickly—within a couple of days. Untreated depression lasts for a long time, interferes with day-to-day activities, and is much more than just being "a little down" or "feeling blue." g) (QUESTION AUDIENCE) h) How many of you have felt depressed or had a friend that you thought was depressed? v) What did you observe that made you think of depression? vi) What did you do to help resolve the depression? i) (PAUSE FOR RESPONSES) j) Not a clinical diagnosis vii) depression that begins during college k) most common mental health problems on college campuses viii) According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Forty million U.S. adults suffer from a depression disorder, and 75% of them experience their first episode of depression by age 22. (1) 80% say they frequently or sometimes experience daily stress (2) 34% have felt...
Words: 951 - Pages: 4
...times there is no doubt we, as a whole nation, have had to make some compromises. One of the biggest, broadest issues our country has been facing is the recent budget cuts in numerous different categories including mental health care. Mental health care has gotten the short end of the stick in the last few years, and it has become a spiraling problem in the United States. Between 2009 and 2011 the United States witnessed some of the largest state budget cuts in history, and we are still suffering from the consequences of doing so. Where does a majority of homelessness, suicide, substance abuse and jail overcrowding stem from? If you take a closer look it will become very clear that cutting the funding for mental health research and treatment has left these mentally ill patients with very few options suitable enough for their varying conditions. Due to the lack of appropriate facilities needed to properly diagnose and treat mentally ill patients, jails are becoming overcrowded and homelessness is at an all-time high. The importance of mental health care is being put on the back burner while, instead, it needs to be a priority and that is why President Obama’s proposition to increase funding to aid the mentally ill in 2014 is extremely necessary. As states cut mental health care funding, prisons are becoming an asylum. There is a very common misconception among the general public that mentally ill individuals are extremely violent, however, this statement has proven to be very...
Words: 1630 - Pages: 7
...Case Study on Mental Illness Cherelle Floyd HCA/210 March 2, 2011 Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Metal illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptom by actively participating in an individual treatment plan. In addition to medication treatment, psychosocial treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, peer support groups and other community service can also be components of a treatment plan and that assist with recovery. The availability of transportation, diet, exercise, sleep, friends and meaningful paid or volunteer activities contribute to overall health and wellness, including mental illness recovery. Metal illnesses are serious medical illnesses....
Words: 769 - Pages: 4
...MENTAL ILLNESS October 2001, just after September 11, he started acting and behaving erratically. He was not the same man we have known as Uncle Dan for the past few years. What has happened to him? Has he suffered from some type of mental illness? According to Canadian Health Association “mental illnesses can take many forms, just as physical illnesses do” (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2009). Uncle Dan was born and raised in a small town named Quesnel, located in the South Western part of Canada. Although his parents were not wealthy, they were not financially restricted either, due to the abundance of lumber mills in this region. They had pushed and financed their children education, for they knew that it was an investment into the future. Even though Uncle Dan’s parent never received a formal education, they were fully aware of the importance of going to college. As an honor graduate from the local High school, Uncle Dan received a scholarship from the province university, BC University, to continue his education. That year, he had met Julia, my mother’s younger sister, whom he married a year later. Shortly afterward, Dan dropped out of the University and returned home to work in a local mill. The only explanation that was given to his parents was “College is not meant for people like me.” While this was not the extent of Uncle Dan’s transformation, it was not enough of a significant warning sign that Uncle Dan had a mental issue. In fact, it was not until that...
Words: 1686 - Pages: 7
...one-third of the total homeless population are people with an untreated serious mental illness. Most of the people with mental illness include people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or A major depression. It’s is next to impossible for these people to get a job and without jobs they would not be able to pay rent. To make matters worse, most of these people don’t know their problems and how and where to go to get their problems fixed. Being mentally ill makes it easier for others to push them around....
Words: 1052 - Pages: 5
...Rico Reference No: 123456789 Report Dated: April 3rd, 2013. 1 INTRODUCTION I am Dr Andrea Rico. I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist from the University of Toronto. My specialist field is psychological trauma. I have worked in this area for over 12 years. This case concerns a series of events dated back to the 8th Century B.C in which the claimant allegedly suffered numerous emotional and physical injuries. The following is a detailed description of King Lear’s case in order to determine if further psychological therapies or treatments are needed. History/Past Profile: Lear is an elderly man. He belongs in the English royal family therefore he ruled the kingdom for a long time. His age has affected severely his physical and mental well being thus he proposes to divide his power and kingdom among his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. “To shake all cares and business from our age, conferring them on younger strengths “ (I i41-42) However, Lear’s decision to not serve as a king until his death, is a direct violation against the fundamentals of “the Great Chain of Being” and as a consequence, this always brings chaos and tragedy to the people that are involved. Lear has always had a strong support system to assist him during his reign; however, his childlike, arrogant and stubborn personality has led him to destroy many of his important family and social bonds. In order to determine who will inherit his sovereignty, he calls for a contest in which his father-daughter...
Words: 1161 - Pages: 5
...Two articles were written in regards to the annual, “R U OK day”, this day is a charity specialising in suicide prevention. It asks individuals to connect with others around them and support anyone who is struggling, with real emphasis and support for those who are mentally ill. An article written by Helen Razer contends that, “The greatest hurdle to treatment for mental illness, in most cases, the lack of it. And feel good “R U OK” campaigns are not going to fix the problem.” She maintains an aggravated tone throughout her article and employs techniques such as inclusive language and ad hominem attacks to convey her contention and connect with the readers. Contrastingly, an editorial written in the Sydney Morning Herald contends that “R U OK day” should not be recognised on just one day, but should occur every day. The author employs evidence and statistics to evoke sympathetic responses from the readers. The author sustains a poignant tone throughout the article. The contention of Helen Razer’s article can be found in the bold heading and the statement following it, as opposed to being within the article. This structural technique clearly cites her contention and allows readers to readily understand her argument. In the first several paragraphs, to endorse her contention, she utilises evidence and expert opinions...
Words: 855 - Pages: 4
...Mental health affects people of all shapes, sexes, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. This also includes prisoners held in state correctional facilities across the United States of America. In 2012, there were an estimated 356,268 inmates with severe mental illnesses in U.S. prison and jails compared to the 35,000 mentally ill individuals who were in state psychiatric hospitals. (Cited) “CASE STUDY”: In 1999, a thirty-five year old man from Ohio was sentence to prison. He served six years for his crime and then later served an additional four years for “failure to register”. While in prison, his children were no longer speaking to him, friends deserted him, and he lost his mother and father. This “rehabilitated” convicted felon is now forty-nine years old, homeless, jobless, and has no marketable work skills. He has contemplated suicide on multiple occasions and has often thought about returning back to prison; purposely....
Words: 797 - Pages: 4
...Briefly Discuss DSM IV and ICD 10 and list the main categories of clinical disorders. The paper will discuss the main dangers of classification identified as labelling and Stigma which have lifelong implications for those diagnosed with a mental illness. The main advantages of classification such as most appropriate treatment and community education Definition of the Classification system used to Diagnosis Mental illness. As Social workers it important to try and grasp the concepts of how classification of mental illness is arrived at and to have a basic knowledge of the types of mental disorders people can be classified as having so we can understand the basis of a diagnosis. According Mendelson (2001) “Classification refers to ordering of objects into groups on the basis of their relationship. The result is a classificatory system. Nomenclature related to agreed names that have been assigned to disease or syndromes. Taxonomy covers principles and methods underlying the practice of classification. Finally, nosology denotes the conceptual system that supports the strategy of classifying.” ( Mendelson 2001 p. 63) Golightley (2004) text states that classification is an important step towards the diagnosis of a mental disorder. Mental disorder is broken down into various classifications that represent groups or syndromes of symptoms. Thus if a series of symptoms fits into a recognised pattern of behaviour they can be classified as for example, schizophrenia and a diagnosis...
Words: 5169 - Pages: 21
...and curse her the next because that is just unrealistic. Lidz said, “Perhaps he seeks to hide the meaning of his embittered and melancholic behavior under the guise of being depressed over Ophelia’s withdrawal of her affection, but it seems a cruel and deceitful way to treat his beloved” (Lidz, Theodore). Hamlet is depressed because of Ophelia’s withdrawal even though he is just being manipulative to her. Hamlet is confused and disorientated. He considers killing himself to end his troubles. In act 3, scene 1, lines 61-63, Hamlet says “And, by opposing, end them? To die, to sleep No more and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks”. Hamlet talks as though he wants to just end his life because all his mental problems that he is having would die out. Hamlet talk as if dying is the only way to end his suffering. No...
Words: 697 - Pages: 3
...“The field of Human Services is broadly defined, uniquely approaching the objective of meeting human needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service populations.” (National Organization for Human Services) Sounds incredible, no? This idea of bringing unique gifts and talents forward in order to provide vital human needs, in an environment that is accountable, and relies upon checks and balances (or introduces same) while seeking to stem new or growing problems, while staying steadfast and focused in order to deliver a better life to people in need. In undertaking the task of this paper I was excited when I found a reference to King Athelstan. He established what is the first recorded almshouse – in York in the 10th Century. I also found that the oldest established charity still in existence is thought to be the Hospital of St. Oswald in Worcester, founded around 990. What I found disturbing is that even though the almshouses in Great Britain survive and thrive – after many adaptations to this day – the almshouses established in the United States evolved to become very bad places. (Almshouses.org website) In our text, we read that in the United States, human services were established and modeled according to the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601, and that the first principle laid down in the colonies defined poor relief as a public responsibility...
Words: 3058 - Pages: 13
... The children of happy marriages are much healthier in the term of mental than the children of divorced parents or the children of single parents who were never married. In an article from Rhona Mahony, she writes that: “Researchers interview 60 recently divorced couples who are experiencing such trouble with their separation that they have sought counselling from a professional psychologist. One -third of the parents have generally adequate mental health. An additional 15 percent of the men and 20 percent of the women have severe mental illness, such as paranoid thinking or manic-depressive disorder.” (www.stanford.edu ) She also argued that: “The researchers discover that after the divorce, many of the children in those families have trouble in school and struggle with intense feelings of anger and sorrow.” (www.stanford.edu) It can be seen from the research that not only parents have mental illness but also children. In addition, Mohony refers to Second Chances (Wallerstein), which reports on children from divorced families. The appendix describes the unusual prevalence and severity of mental illness in her sample, which also supports my point. Also, from an article: The Effects of Divorce on Children, it is argued that: “Generally how children fare in families is due in part to the mental health of the parents; this is likely to be true for children in...
Words: 1485 - Pages: 6
