Mental Health: The Reality

Mental health is an issue that is all too often overlooked and in some cases simply ignored. Mental health directly affects people of all colors, creeds and ages even; it does not discriminate. Even very young children may show early warning signs of mental health concerns and are often clinically diagnosable. “Unfortunately, less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need. Early mental health support can help a child before problems interfere with other developmental needs. (Mental Health)”

It was important for me to take on the topic of mental health awareness, because in this past month I have come across multiple instances where women are causing serious harm and/or killing their small children. One of those instances occurred in my own town, where a 26 year old mother of four, drowned her eight month old and 18 month old in a bath tub and contacted law enforcement to report what she had done. Since this instance took place it has been determined that the woman’s state of mental health played a major part in the fatal situation and in some ways could have been prevented since the young lady had actually been seen and released from a hospital for her mental status earlier that same day; she was released, alone, with her children.

It is important that we bring awareness to mental health within our communities so that we can work together as a unit to reduce the chances that children, youth and young adults will develop mental health problems.

Around 173 million Chinese suffer from a mental disorder, according to a 2009 study published in British medical journal The Lancet. It has been estimated that only 5% of people who currently have a mental illness in China have received psychiatric care from a professional. The government is working toward a improvements within their mental health system, such as financing mental health services and provide training for primary care providers. Among the most significant changes has been a new set of rights for patients, including not being hospitalized against their will. (Nylander, 2014) 

Confinement in government mental institutions has been used increasingly over the past decade. These mental institutions are called "ankang” or "peace and health" hospitals and are managed by the Public Security Bureau. According to Human Rights Work in Hong Kong, treatments within these institutions include beatings and electric shocks. As of 2011, there were some 20 "ankang" institutions operating in China. (Nylander, 2014)

References

Infographics & Fact Sheets. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2015, from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Fact-Sheet-Library

Nylander, J. (2014, May 6). China's mental health care system is lacking - CNN.com. Retrieved November 5, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/06/world/asia/china-mental-health/

Www.mentalhealth.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2015, from http://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html