Suicide,+Depression+and+Society

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Edvard Munich’s “The Scream” is a famous pastel piece with a significant metaphorical embodiment of mental health. This piece depicts a moment in Munich’s life, wherein he felt overwhelmed by confusion, fear, and anxiety., and Munich described the moment which inspired this masterpiece as such; ‘the sun was setting—suddenly the sky turned blood red—I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city—my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety—and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature’(Shah, 2010).======

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Mental health is one of Australia’s ever threatening, yet somewhat ignored health issues. Throughout our society, there are numerous persons struggling with the challenges of day to day life, because they are not receiving the appropriate help and attention to manage their condition. The wide array of mental illnesses affecting those around us can range from clear and obvious delusions, all the way through to completely undetectable depression. Throughout the exploration of this topic, we must consider the impact on our society, as well as the findings, advances and limitations of modern study.======

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For an issue as prevalent in our Australian culture as mental health, it seems to be receiving far less public awareness and attention as it deserves. One of the most undeniable reflections of our national mental health issue is the suicide rate. Currently in Australia, Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in Males, according to the Australian bureau of statistics; who reported a total of 2,130 deaths relating to self harm in 2009 – which makes up 1.5% of the total (ABS, 2009). With statistics like these, it is easy to see the extreme importance in trying to minimise the occurrence of self inflicted deaths. Furthermore, according to the Australian institute of health and welfare “Everyone will at some time in their life be affected by depression -- their own or someone else's”. Depression can be a crippling condition which affects a strong portion of our population. In fact, studies show that almost 10% of American adults (aged 18 and over) will experience depression in just a 1 year window. This statistic is reiterated by the ABS, who reported in 2004/5 that 11% of the Australian population had an ongoing mental health problem, whilst 18% experienced one within the 12 months prior to the survey. The question of importance regarding mental health exists today, due to a combination of public ignorance, and society’s unwillingness to face the issue head on. The social stigma of mental illness is one of many factors which is maintaining mental illness in our society, and containing our ability to combat it.======

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Research has been the primary basis of improvement for mental health treatment through the modern medical age. Further knowledge continues to allow for a more strategic allocation of resources, as well as a stronger sense of direction for treatments and medications. Research and professional opinion have remained relatively stable over the last decade, however when extrapolated to the last 50 years, the advances in mental health become very apparent. Busch (2006) explains how patients under the current mental health register now have far more choices in the process of treatment and medication, when compared with the practices of the circa 1960’s period. Contemporary mental health practises focus far more on psychology and pharmaceutical routes to mental wellbeing, as opposed to acts of institutionalisation and primitive electroconvulsive therapy. Kaut (2011) explains that pharmacology has become an entirely integrated form of treatment within our approach to mental health, and the next step is for health care professionals to gain the relevant knowledge and perspective to apply these drugs in a safe and beneficial manner. Awareness from the public is a further benefit currently being brought into the modern age. Organisations such as Beyond Blue are striving to create an environment where those suffering from mental illnesses can seek out the assistance they require. They further promote acceptance, in an effort to combat the stigma of “insanity” and “lunacy” as being synonymous with the spectrum of mental health.======

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The primary limitation to the study of mental health is the lack of detection. Health care professionals can only speculate as to how many of those around us, suffer from an underlying mental health issue that has gone, and will continue to go undiagnosed. The stem of this limitation once more lies within the issue of social awareness and stigma; many people will ignore a potential mental health risk, as they wish to avoid being labelled by society and treated different to those around them. To support all claims that ignoring mental health issues increases risk, THOMAS, C. R. (2009) states that 80, up to 90% of suicides are a result of undiagnosed mental condition. Further limitations lay in a particular demographics ability to reach the assistance they require. Those in urban first world nations are lucky enough to have a supply of relevant health care professionals to assist us in finding the necessary treatment required for whatever issue may arise. Contrast that with a more remote area, even within Australia, and the ease of diagnosis is not quite as simple. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2008) reported that the number of psychiatrists per capita in capital cities were over seven times higher than more remote areas. Couple that with a less educated and wealthy nation such as Tanzania and we see that there are less than 0.02 medical physicians per thousand people (contrast this with Australia’s 2.5 per thousand). Through these barriers it can become clear that knowledge and funding provide a strong barricade between society and the acquisition of appropriate psychiatric advice.======

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Mental health is an aspect of life that affects society as a whole. Turecki, G. (2007) explains the importance of raising social awareness of mental illness as a means to promote the appropriate care. Turecki explains that we must work toward “destigmatizing these illnesses, both within society and among ourselves...Many patients are ashamed”. This holds particularly true to the youth generations within our society, who are suffering at rates of 15%-20% in North America ( World Health Organization 2005). Kutcher (2008) continues to explain that untreated mental illnesses within youth can impede emotional and social wellbeing, and impair their ability to optimise interpersonal interactions within society. In addition to the genetic predisposition of mental illness tending to manifest during the developmental stages of youth, this particular demographic is said to be of a far higher risk in engaging in risky activities, which is a further risk for mental health complications. This is typified by the ever growing prevalence of youth binge drinking. Activities such as these can permanently disrupt connections in the brain that ensure healthy brain function, and provide a mechanism for onset of mental illnesses ( Depression..., 2010). Furthermore, the adolescent stage of life provides a suggestible period in a child’s life, where s/he may be far more susceptible to any additional environmental factors influencing their mental health. This vulnerable state can be demonstrated in the instances of mental health troubles among migrant children, who are said to develop these anxieties and depression through the stresses and losses of such a traumatic process (James, 1997).======

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Mental health awareness is a paramount step to helping those affected reach the help they deserve. As previously stated, many of those around us suffer from mental illnesses, yet will not seek treatment in an attempt to avoid the associated stigma. This is where the real issue manifests, and a treatable mental illness can become a suicide case. This is supported by the fact that over 3 times as many suicide deaths are males, when compared with females. This statistic is conclusive, states Brommelhoff (2004), who claims that depression is equal among men and women; but that women express and report more symptoms, thus seek help more frequently. This leads to the obvious conclusion that the available resources are effective in preventing a large quantity of suicides, when accessed appropriately. The fact that men have a far higher suicide rate than women, within apparently equal parameters of mental health occurrences, shows that as a society we should strive to reach the males suffering within our community. The fact that women’s suicide rates are roughly only 30% of males, suggests that we should be striving to decrease male suicides by 70%, at a bare minimum. A variety of steps to achieve this goal can be undertaken by public health experts – be they early detection programs integrated within our schooling system, as well as a further push for public awareness through drives like “R U OK Day” and “Beyond Blue”, aimed particularly at the male demographic.======

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Edvard Munich’s “The Scream” provides a strong depiction of the overwhelming nature of mental illness and anxiety. The piece demonstrates many layers of depth regarding the constraints and personal turmoil experienced by those suffering from acute mental illnesses. These statements remain true when describing the man behind the art himself; Munich. Edvard Munich lived a life to evoke every emotion captured within the piece, and many more. His early life was stricken with tragedy as his mother passed away whilst he was aged 5. Edvard, his brother and three sisters grew up under the intensive religious household of his much older father. Munich was later faced with more torment as his older sister Sophie, with whom he was very close, died of tuberculosis. Munich drew many depictions of her fleeting health in her last days, which were amongst the 1008 paintings, 4443 drawings, 15391 prints, and various other woodcuts, photographs etc recovered from the household in which he died at age 80. “The Scream” typifies, for me the essence of mental illnesses, which is precisely what society must aim to prevent, treat, and most of all accept. The ongoing research on mental health is a step in the right direction toward increasing awareness of the issue, which in turn can diminish the horrendous social stigma brought upon by primitive ideas of mental illness being synonymous with insanity, or compromised stability. Through the continuation of these steps, society can look toward a future without labels, and a healthy environment to seek help.======

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(2011). Australian Bureau of Statistics. //Causes of Death, Australia, 2009.// Retrieved 29th October, 2011, from []======

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(2011). Australian Bureau of Statistics. //Causes of Death, Australia, 2009.// Retrieved 29th October, 2011, from []======

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//James, D.C.S.//  ( //1997// ). //Coping with a new society: The unique psychological problems of immigrant youth// . //Journal of School Health// , //67// , //98// – //102// . ======

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Murray, B., Fortinberry, A. (2008). Uplift Program. //Depression Facts and Stats.// Retrieved 28th October, 2011, from [|http://www.upliftprogram.com/depression_stats.html#2]======

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Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1998. “National Health Priority Areas Mental Health: A Report Focusing on Depression.” Depression statistics in Australia are comparable to those of the US and UK. ======

World Health Organization. (2005). Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policies and Plans (Mental Health Policy and Service Guidance Package) Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization
**Reflective comments** "Nothing Fits, I Have Nothing" - Social Support in Mental Illness Chloe. I well and truly agree with you on this issue. As somebody with a schizophrenic brother, I empathise with your views toward the broken health care system to which you refer, as well as the ignorance that can be shown by society which only magnifies the issue for the unfortunate people who are left to suffer the consequences. I can tell from reading your wiki how this is personally important to you, and I feel that this personal investment toward the issue is what has made your work so strong. This was a very informative wiki, and perhaps if more people saw the issue as it really is, those who have to live with the illness would not have such a hard time. I believe you deserve a very good mark for this page, well done.

Are You Sexy Enough for Sport? I feel this wiki entry is a very strong piece, with a variety of strong points to be made about the state of gender equity on our sporting fields. The resources were strong, and relevant toward supporting many very true statements about just how bad the issue has gotten, particularly from a media perspective. I was particularly captured by the issue of female commentators, which as Sam mentioned, has developed in such a way where not only are women less likely to be chosen for that particular career, but they are less likely to aspire towards it, for fear of being seen as second rate.