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Treating mental illness obviously improve society's overall happiness and well-being however there are many other benefits to treating those that are mentally ill.
25% of the world's population will suffer from common mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety at sometime in their life. A recent study suggested that mental illnesses were a 'major block' on the global economy as those who are mentally ill become extremely unproductive. They claimed that with every $1 spent on treating individuals with depression, production would be restored at an equivalent of $2.5 and with every $1 spent on treating individuals with anxiety, production would be restored at an equivalent of $3. Not only would treating people with mental illnesses improve the general happiness of the population, but it could also help the economy by getting people back in the workforce.
Do you think the government should make more of an effort to help those with mental illnesses?
If so, how should the government help treat people who suffer from depression and anxiety?
12 comments:
I think the government should focus more on mental health, beginning with implementing more awareness programs at school to teach students how to deal with depression and offer help. Every workplace could also hire a wellness counselor or therapist that workers could go to if they needed mental help.
I do think the government should put more effort in helping and supporting mental illness as it impacts many people. I think that people's happiness and health are more important and should be prioritized. I think that they should first spread awareness and then ensure resources for those who struggle with mental illness. It is important that schools, workplaces etc. have access to and offer wellness counselors or therapists that could help.
I also believe that the government should put more focus on helping those with mental illnesses, but the sole reason shouldn't be to help the economy. So many people suffer from a mental illness but many also don't have resources, such as therapy and medicines, available. However, treating mental illness isn't as easy as we would hope. Some people in therapy and/or taking medication still feel the effects of their illness and many can go through months of testing out different prescriptions before they find the right medication or dosage. I don't know how much the government should put into helping with mental illnesses if they don't know how big of an impact/benefit it will have on the economy.
If treating mental illnesses actually has a negative net cost, I don't see why it shouldn't be treated. In addition, since mental illnesses affect such a significant portion of the population, emphasizing its treatment would certainly improve the health of many. I agree with Michelle that implementing more mental health programs and awareness programs at schools is a great place to start, as students will have both have immediate access to helpful resources and learn how to deal with with mental illness in the future.
I believe that the government should try and treat mental illnesses just for the sake of allowing the people affected to feel "normal," not necessarily for helping the economy. I think it makes more sense to treat mental illness, and then as a side note, it helps the economy. People who suffer from mental health disorders like depression and anxiety are often excluded because of the stigma surrounding mental health. However, other than testing and making more medications that could decrease the effects of mental health illnesses, I am not sure how they can be treated. Currently, I think the best method is to raise awareness about these disorders and gradually decrease the stigma.
Mental health disorders are a HUGE issue in America. Therefore, it is the government's duty to address such issues and propose solutions. It is completely unacceptable for the government to just brush aside an issue that is costing the lives of thousands. I think there should be more money invested in researching and analyzing mental illnesses, as well as mental health disorders being treated just as seriously as physical disorders. Overall, I think it is necessary for the nation as a whole to become much more aware and educated on mental health so that they have a better understanding and are able to help those who suffer from them in a more positive and efficient manner. Often times, the thing that people who struggle with mental health issues desire the most, is for loved ones to have a better understanding of their condition.
If that recent study is accurate, then I would definitely like to see an increase in treatment for mental illnesses. As you mentioned, the two major benefits are that more people are going to be happy, and there are going to be more people working, which would lead to an increase in productivity for the economy. I feel that it is important to address both kids in school and adults at work, even if kids at school are not contributing much in society without a job, they are still getting an education which will lead them to getting jobs in the future.
I think the government should pay attention to helping the mentally ill, but not for a money-driven cause. They should pay attention to them because they are humans and deserve to be healthy, not just because those mentally ill hold potential profits... that seems a bit dehumanizing to me. A possible way to help treat these individuals is to try and further research on different types of mental illnesses (such as anxiety and depression), determine an effective way to help treat them, and make any medicines needed affordable.
I believe that the government should help those with a mental illness. The common belief of the us is that we should always help those in need whom cannot fight for themselves.however, the idea of fixing mental ilness requires alot of money time and effort to research on how to find a cure.the way about solving for mental illness is by simply doing what we always have: going into the lab and thinking until we find a solution
Mental illness is a major issue in my opinion, especially since it ranges across all age groups. I specifically think that it should be addressed among the youth. I agree with Alaina that the government should take action and help because these people are humans, not just because they possibly hold profit. The government should find a way to make treating mental illnesses more affordable.
I think that the government should focus more on helping and supporting mental illnesses, as it affects so many people. I don't think the government should do this just to help the economy, but rather for the well-being of our people. The economy isn't as important as these people's lives. I think that the government should focus more funding towards research as to how to truly help these people. If they can find an effective treatment, they should try to make it (medicine) affordable for all families and make sure people know that they have the support they need. Sometimes people struggle because they feel like they are alone. The government should make it their priority to make sure their people are okay and that they know they are being cared for.
I believe that it is important for the government to make more of an effort to help those with mental illnesses and the many people who suffer from them for the purposes of good health and well-being rather than just for the economy (although if it will help the economy, that’s good too). The government can help those people by bringing awareness to the issue, recommending ways to help solve the many problems that come with it, and implementing programs in schools and workplaces to help people deal with it. In the end, it is more important to help the people first as human beings before focusing on the economic benefits it can bring.
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