The terror attack on New York City’s World Trade Center (WTC) complex on Sept. 11, 2001 continues to cause mental problems to New Yorkers. Even more than 16 years after the completion of the cleanup operations at the site of the tragedy, a study suggests that many members of the cleanup crew still grapple with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that may have increased their vulnerability to stroke and heart attack. Continue reading
New York and Virginia are the first states in the United States to make new laws that mandate schools to include mental health education in their curriculums. Recently, the New York legislation directed all K-12 classrooms to include compulsory mental health instruction as part of the overall health curriculum. “By ensuring that young people learn about mental health, we increase the likelihood that they will be able to more effectively recognize signs in themselves and others, including family members, and get the right help,” says the New York law. In Virginia, the new law will come into force this fall, making it obligatory for high school students to study about mental health during their first two years. Continue reading
American singer and actor Ariana Grande recently revealed her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in an interview with British Vogue. The confession came almost a year after a suicide bomber targeted her concert in Manchester, England in 2017, killing 23 people, including the bomber, and injuring 139 others, more than half of whom were children. Continue reading
‘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 young girl in room number 1212 was petrified. She could hear the sounds of bullets ricocheting off the walls, endless screams and the throb of footsteps as students ran here and there to dodge the spray of bullets from the AR-15. She also heard the thuds of bodies hitting the floor as she crouched in fear with her teacher and language-arts classmates. It was mayhem outside, and yet no one in Room 1212 dared to voice their fears. By the time the lone gunman, Nikolas Cruz, was apprehended, 17 had died and many others injured. Only the inmates of Room 1212 escaped without a scratch; yet the impact on their minds was immense. 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
“Help me, it’s like the walls are caving in…Sometimes I feel like giving up…But I just can’t…It isn’t in my blood.” – “In My Blood,” Shawn Mendes 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
