Mental health is a silent killer and something that, although we are doing our best to do so, isn't discussed enough.
Whether it is depression, social anxiety or another form of mental illness, it can destroy lives and end in tragic circumstances. Unfortunately, we are living in a world where mental illnesses are on the rise, with someone being diagnosed with depression or anxiety every 2.1 minutes in the UK alone.
However, it is not just in the UK that mental illness is on the rise. Research carried out by Dr. Jean Twenge, a social psychologist at San Diego State University who is the author of Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before, shows that depression and anxiety has been on the rise in America since the 1930's.
Twenge believes that the root of this growing misery lies in the ways in which young people live their lives, especially when compared to previous generations:
"Obviously there’s a lot of good things about societal and technological progress," she said, "and in a lot of ways our lives are much easier than, say, our grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ lives. But there’s a paradox here that we seem to have so much ease and relative economic prosperity compared to previous centuries, yet there’s this dissatisfaction, there’s this unhappiness, there are these mental health issues in terms of depression and anxiety."
“Modern life doesn’t give us as many opportunities to spend time with people and connect with them, at least in person, compared to, say, 80 years ago or 100 years ago. Families are smaller, the divorce rate is higher, people get married much later in life.”
While smaller families and late marriage are seen as a positive by many, mainly due to the fact it is seen as representative of women getting a greater standing in the workplace, Twenge believes that this lack of compassion and security is contributing to the rise of depressed individuals. She also believes that the prominence of celebrities on social media haven't helped, saying:
"There’s clear evidence that the focus on money, fame, and image has gone up," she said, referring to various surveys that have been conducted in which young people are asked about their goals in life, "and there’s also clear evidence that people who focus on money, fame, and image are more likely to be depressed and anxious."
One girl who knows all about the effects that mental illness can have on someone's life, is Aurora Holt. Holt took to Twitter a few days ago to share her story of overcoming her demons, and understandably, it has gone viral. Sharing a series of images, including one her engagement ring, Holt says:
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"Sept. 21 2016 I decided to take my life. Luckily I failed & 365 days later I'm engaged,going to college & starting my future. Don't give up."
Unsurprisingly, her story has captured the imagination of other Twitter users, who have been sharing their own stories of battling depression, with the majority of people calling her a role model and praising her for her bravery and going public with her story.
Holt's story shows that despite how bad things can become, you never know what might be around the corner. Since she tried to end her life, Holt has gone on to do more than she ever would have thought was possible, and she deserves all the plaudits she can possibly get for that.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, contact Your Life Your Voice on 1 800 448 3000, Samaritans on 116 123 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline on 1 800 273 8255. For recorded information, call Mind on 0300 123 3393.
Mental health remains a taboo topic in many families, businesses and friendship groups - despite the desperate campaigning of those who have suffered at the hands of depression, anxiety and self harm or worse still, those who have lost loved ones to suicide.
Suicide is now considered a major national public health issue in the United States, where the suicide rate increased by 24 per cent between 1999 and 2014. In the UK, it is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45. That more awareness is needed is perfectly highlighted by the prevalence of responses like “your life is great, how can you be depressed?”
However, CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) have been fighting for greater awareness of male suicide and undiagnosed depression. Every week in the UK, 84 men take their own lives. This inspired the Project 84 petition which was launched by CALM and Matthew Smith, whose brother Dan took his life 13 years ago.
Today, on World Mental Health Day, the Project 84 petition reached its goal - not in terms of signatures but governmental change. Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Jackie Doyle-Price as the first ever minister for suicide prevention.
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“Around 6,000 lives are lost to suicide in the UK every year,” states Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM. “This has a huge emotional and societal impact across the whole of the UK and, whilst government figures state that each suicide costs the country £1.67 million, the real cost is in the devastation each and every suicide leaves behind.”
He continues: “That’s why, as a part of CALM’s #Project84 campaign in March and together with Matthew Smith who lost his brother to suicide, we launched a petition calling for a Minister for Suicide Prevention. We did so with the aim that, through real government action, significantly fewer families would have to experience the trauma that Matthew’s family lived through and fewer people would feel that life was not worth living.”
The news of the new appointment was announced during the government’s inaugural global health summit. The conference sees delegates from more than 50 countries assemble in the capital. It is hoped that, rather than being seen to address the issue, the governments represented at this event will implement tangible change and the UK’s appointment of a minister for suicide seems like a good step.
“With almost 400,000 signatures,” Simon adds, “the petition reflects how much the nation cares about tackling suicide. CALM took this on and consulted with Number 10 on the role for a new Minister for Suicide Prevention. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement of this appointment. We have high hopes for the Minister’s potential impact, through shining a light on suicide and its devastating effects, de-stigmatising the issue, and continuing to build support for all those affected across the UK.”
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“My brother Dan, who I lost to suicide, was my best pal and my idol,” explains Matthew Smith of the Project 84 petition. “Ever since, I’ve been pushing for change in his name, so that no other family has to go through what we did. When I launched the petition with CALM, and saw an outpouring of support from hundreds of thousands of people, I was overwhelmed.”
CALM hopes to raise awareness of the male suicide issue and remove the stigma from mental health issues. Those suffering with persistent negative thoughts, agoraphobia or even stress-related conditions may find themselves in need of help but there remains a barrier which has only partially been broken down.
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“I knew suicide was a tough issue from my own experience,” Matthew continues, “but I never imagined quite how many people were touched by this issue and would join me and CALM in calling for change. Nearly four hundred thousand signatures later and we officially have a Minister for Suicide Prevention. It’s incredible and I’m excited for what comes next in terms of improving support up and down the country for people who think taking their own life is their only option and of course for anyone bereaved by suicide.”
Ultimately, it is the taboo - the sense that telling someone you are suffering is a sign of weakness - which leads people to suffer in silence and leads to the stark statistics we have seen.
That suicidal thoughts should be a source of shame comes the idea that suicide is a sin - an archaic religious doctrine designed to profess the sanctity of life. So it is painfully ironic, of course, that this has led to so many preventable deaths.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, contact Your Life Your Voice on 1 800 448 3000, Samaritans on 116 123 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline on 1 800 273 8255. For recorded information, call Mind on 0300 123 3393
Society's understanding of mental health has improved astronomically. Now, people are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that mental illness is no different from physical illness and should be treated accordingly - with everyone being encouraged to take note of the signs that someone is struggling. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people aged between 15 and 24.
This increased awareness can, in part, be credited to celebrities who have used their platform to speak out about their own mental health struggles in the hope that it will encourage others to do the same. After the tragic death of Robin Williams in 2014, seemingly one of the happiest people on the planet, celebrities began to speak out like never before. And one of the biggest mental health advocates is Lady Gaga, as shown by her Grammys acceptance speech last night.
Check out the incredible speech and, even more importantly, her inspiring message below:
This reference to mental health issues was no coincidence, either. Mother Monster's starring role in A Star is Born draws attention to various mental health issues, including addiction. She said that the movie's popularity should be used as an opportunity for celebrities and Average Joes alike to check in with anyone who is hurting.
"If I don't get another chance to say this, I just want to say I'm so proud to be a part of a movie that addresses mental health issues. They're so important," she said, struggling to catch her breath. "A lot of artists deal with that. And we gotta take care of each other. So if you see somebody that's hurting, don't look away. And if you're hurting, even though it might be hard, try to find that bravery within yourself to dive deep and go tell somebody and take them up in your head with you."
And the speech was certainly appreciated by many viewers, with some people calling it "the best acceptance speech ever":
Gaga made this speech as she accepted the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her and Bradley Cooper's performance of 'Shallow' in A Star is Born - the 32-year-old's third Grammy win of the night.
Understandably, Gaga also credited her co-star's role in her Grammy win for 'Shallow', saying, "I wish Bradley was here with me right now. I know he wants to be here. Bradley, I loved singing this song with you."
In addition to these impressive three wins, Gaga also won a BAFTA for Best Original Music in A Star is Born.
The 32-year-old's other two Grammy wins were for Best Song Written For Visual Media for 'Shallow' and Best Pop Solo Performance for 'Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?)'.
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This follows on from the singer's statement about mental health in November of last year.
At the Patron of the Artists Award, she said, "When I speak about mental health, especially when I'm speaking about mine, it is often met with quietness. Or maybe, a somber line of fans, waiting outside to whisper to me in the shadows about their darkest secrets. We need to bring mental health into the light."
It's a well-known fact that one in four people will suffer from a mental health condition at some point - even if you're not be affected personally, it's a guarantee that someone you love will be. And none of us would want any of our loved ones, or even ourselves, to suffer in silence, in the shadows, when we can get the help we need in the light.
Mental illness is a concerning crisis. More and more people are gradually becoming aware of its prevalence and debilitating effects. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental health issues, or any frank discussion of the subject, has always held us back as a society and left those afflicted by mental sickness largely marginalised by medical professionals and the general public. Things are only just beginning to change, but we still have a way to go before we can stamp out shaming completely. Scratch beneath the surface and you'll find that a lot more people are suffering than you might have otherwise assumed.
For instance, according to studies conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly 20 per cent of adults in the United States - some 43.8 million people - will experience at least one form of mental illness every year on average. Moreover, the stats for children and youths are just as alarming. Approximately 21.5 per cent of adolescents between the ages of 13 to 18 will experience a severe mental disorder at some point, and 13 per cent of children aged 8 to 13. The worst part? Those are just the figures for those people who have been conclusively diagnosed. There are even more people out there who will never have their mental malady formally identified by a doctor.
But the cost that mental illness bears, both financial and emotional, is staggering. The same NAMI study also determined that serious mental illnesses cost America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per annum and that America's already-overstretched healthcare system is struggling to cope with the shocking number of people who have been admitted to hospital as a result of mental problems. Additionally, many Americans are unable to afford healthcare insurance, meaning that these mental problems remain ultimately untreated.
The situation is little better in the United Kingdom, a nation which does boast free healthcare. In Great Britain, austerity measures and public service cuts have left the National Health Service in dire straits and last year thousands of doctors around the country went on strike to protest being overworked and underpaid. Under these conditions, where patients can expect to wait months, or even years to receive cognitive behavioural therapy and other forms of treatment, is it any wonder that so many people are subjected to inadequate psychiatric care long after they should have been diagnosed? Quick and early diagnoses are utterly necessary, yet they remain elusively uncommon.
The good news is that scientists have managed to develop an unconventional solution, in the form of a digital doctor which can assess mental health over social media. This computerised shrink never sleeps, doesn't need to be paid and can give almost anyone a quick and accurate consultation eventually. It's all thanks to a new Twitter algorithm. Pretty amazing huh?
Researchers from Harvard University, Stanford University and the University of Vermont collaborated on the project, which collected data and details of depression from 204 individuals using Twitter. Of these 204 people, 99 had no previous or current history of mental illness and 105 had suffered or were suffering from a mental illness. The scientists then employed a bespoke supervised learning algorithm that they had personally designed. This algorithm analysed certain keywords and word choices, as well as the sentence structure and syntax, of mentally ill people.
Eventually, the program was capable of finding language that indicated symptoms of mental illness and was able to apply this knowledge proactively in order to forecast which Twitter users were mentally unwell and which were neurotypical. The program discovered that depressed individuals employed negative words such as "no", "never", and "death" in their tweets, and words which had a positive association, like "happy" and "photo". The algorithm was also capable of detecting symptoms of depression in the subject approximately 100 to 200 days before they were clinically diagnosed.
The same algorithm was also applied to Twitter users to determine whether it could detect who was suffering from PTSD. The algorithm eventually managed to predict PTSD in Twitter accounts approximately 90 per cent of the time, according to a screening characteristic known as positive predictive value. By comparison, an average doctor can only expect to boast a PPV of around 50 per cent.
Commenting on their findings, researcher Chris Danforth, from the University of Vermont, stated that: "We recruited individuals who were active on social media, and had been diagnosed by a psychiatrist as having depression or PTSD. Using a subset of their tweets, we trained an algorithm to identify differences between their behaviour and that of a control population on Twitter who had not been diagnosed. Our main finding is that there are predictive markers distinguishing the two groups, and this is often true well before individuals are first diagnosed with these mental health problems."
Fellow-researcher Katharina Lix concurred, stating: "We hope that our research will eventually help improve mental health care, for example in preventive screening. We could imagine clinicians using this technology as a supporting tool during a patient’s initial assessment, provided that the patient has agreed to have their social media data used in this way. We want to emphasise that any real-world application of this technology must carefully take into account ethical and privacy concerns."
We often hear people decry the role of Twitter when it comes to modern communication, with some critics of the social media tool claiming that it provokes division, sows poor debate and encourages political echo chambers, fake news, online shaming and mob rule. Yet this experiment proves that, properly harnessed, it has the potential to act as a profound tool to improve overall quality of life.
At some point in our lives, we’re all going to have to contend with our emotional state not quite being in tip-top shape. In the United Kingdom, it’s estimated that 25 percent of people will experience some kind of mental health problem, while in any given week, one in six people experience anxiety, depression, or some other form of emotional distress.
When it comes to the younger ones, the numbers are just as worrying, and in ways, more difficult to deal with. YoungMinds are a charity fighting for the mental health of children, teenagers and young adults.
They estimate that in the UK alone, there are around 850,000 young people who have a diagnosable mental health problems, as the growing pains of life begin to take their toll. I have personally struggled with my mental health in the past, but if it’s not you, then might be someone close to you who is attempting to hold it all together.
Having a loved one with mental health issues can also be hard, and although you’d do anything to try and help out, there are some phrases that it's best you avoid. Here are just a few things you say to someone struggling with mental health that really don’t help as much as you’d think.
1. “Why don’t you just do this?”
To an innocent bystander or the uninitiated, mental health problems can at times seem easy to solve. Your friend drinking in the dark after a bad breakup just needs to get out there and meet people. After a near-death experience, your partner needs to stop feeling paranoid by realising they’re not in any danger. You might be right, but don’t be surprised if your advice doesn’t help one iota, because it’s just not that simple. When someone is struggling with their mental health, even the most basic of things things can be extremely difficult and it doesn’t always help to point out seemingly ‘simple’ solutions. If someone is struggling, the best thing to do is let them know you’re there for them and encourage them to get help.
When in the middle of a mental health crisis, some people might start to self-harm. If you start to notice some marks, alongside slight behaviour changes and other worrying signs, it’s a good idea to check in to see if that person is OK. But please don’t point out new scars in public. If someone is in a bad place and has started to self-harm, it can be embarrassing or distressing to bring it up in public discussion.
Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time. It’s easy to assume we can identify someone struggling with their mental health just by looking at them, but that’s just not the case. To that end, if someone you care about opens up to you about something they’re struggling with, resist the temptation to tell them that because they don’t mope around all day with a face like thunder, softly crooning Johnny Cash’s Hurt to themselves, they’re not actually depressed. A mental health problem is a beast with many faces, and sometimes, your friend smiling and laughing is their way of coping. Don’t interpret this as a sign they’re over their issues, or that their problems can in any way be dismissed.
4. “Have you tried [insert ridiculous homeopathy solution here]?”
Although it’s not always easy to put yourself in the shoes of someone living with OCD, depression or anxiety, there are some attempts to empathize that are more helpful than others. I can tell you from experience about people who have recommended a certain herb or supplement to me, based upon the time where they felt really sad for a while. “Best of all, it’s only £4.99 at Holland and Barrett!" I hate to say it, people, but the situation might be more nuanced than simply ingesting the right kind of plant life. While different things work for different people, if you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s important that you reach out to your GP.
5. “It’s your choice”
Sometimes, it can be really, really difficult to live with or love someone who’s struggling with their mental health. They don’t always respond to things in the way that you’d like them to, and with their mood inconsistent or consistently low, it can be easy to get frustrated. That’s natural, and it’s okay. What isn’t okay, however, is to imply that your friend, sibling or loved one is doing what they’re doing on purpose. First off: no. No they are not. Nobody struggling with their mental health is having suicidal thoughts for attention. Secondly, by telling them their actions are theirs alone, you might as well be saying: “I give up. You’re on your own.” Needless to say, the last thing your loved one needs to feel is like they’ve been abandoned.
6. “Just be positive”
Hold on! This isn’t to say that positive thinking isn’t useful for overcoming mental issues, or that you should allow your friend’s negative self-talk to take root. But when you’re in the middle of an anxious or depressive episode, it’s not always easy or possible to control where your mind goes in a situation. Put it this way: no matter what your loved one has been through in their life, the chances are that they’ve tried “thinking positively” or “being happy” in the past. If it were that simple, then we would’ve cured mental illness a long time ago.
Well, everyone, there you have it. If you’ve got someone out there who’s struggling with their mental health, very often the best thing to do is to attempt to listen to and understand their problems, no matter how obvious you think the solution is, or how difficult it is for you to hear.
And while it’s good to think about what you say, don’t worry too much: the main thing is just to do your best to help them. Always remember: when you’re there for somebody and you feel like you’re not making a difference, it doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate what you do.
This article was written in collaboration with Young Minds - a charity helping thousands of young people around the United Kingdom to cope with emotional distress. To find out more, please click on the following link: http://bit.ly/LookAfterYourself
As the years go by, mental health is starting to become less of a taboo subject in the world. While our ancestors used to live by the "stiffen up that upper lip" and "shut up and say nothing" mode of life, a new generation of adults are beginning to openly talk about mental health and the impact it can have on one's life.
As with most of these things, the conversations are being led by those in the public eye. Celebrities such as Ryan Reynolds, Kesha and Lady Gaga have all spoken about their battles with mental health; another name to add to that list is Cara Delevingne.
Last year, Delevingne revealed that she had suffered with depression and anxiety as a teenager and she was vocal in its support for others to come out and speak up about their experiences as well. She told The Edit:
"I felt alienated and alone because I was like: 'What's wrong with me?' I always wanted people to love me, so I never got angry with them; I turned my anger on to myself. Mental illness goes unseen but hopefully I don't want it to be unheard."
Well, leading by example, the model-cum-actor-cum-author has now written a book about mental health, called Mirror Mirror.
Appearing on This Morning, Cara spoke about her battle with depression in more detail, revealing how she felt at the time of her mental illness:
"They're such turbulent years – a mayhem of hormones and emotions and feelings. I didn't know how to communicate my emotions. I was so ashamed of how I felt because I had such a privileged upbringing, I'm very lucky."But I had depression. I had moments where I didn't want to carry on living. But then the guilt of feeling that way and not being able to tell anyone because I shouldn't feel that way just left me feeling blame and guilt."
Cara then revealed what the catalyst in her gaining control of these emotions was, and revealed how she ended up battling through them.
"It was realising that I shouldn't be ashamed of feeling these things, and that I wasn't alone – learning that everyone goes through similar things. That being vulnerable is actually a strength not a weakness, and showing your emotion and being honest about it [is good.]"
She then went on to offer a message of support for those battling with depression or mental illness, telling them that they can go on to achieve anything they dream of.
"If you learn to love yourself and not give in to what other people think about you or not care what they think, and just follow your dreams, you can achieve anything. And that's what I want to be for teenagers – not necessarily a role model, but someone who has gone through it and come out the other side."
Well done to Delevigne for being so open and honest when it comes to discussing mental health. As said earlier, if more celebrities and people of power come forward to discuss the issue, there would be an increase in the dialogues and discussions surrounding it, which is never a bad thing.
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