Suicide in Mental Health - Essay Example

Suicide in Mental Health "Saving Lives Our Healthier Nation." is an action plan for improving the health of the poor by improving the health of everyone. "This is an action plan to tackle poor health by improving the health of everyone, and of the worst off in particular. The report was presented to the UK Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health in 1999. The government accepts responsibility for the social and environmental factors which cause ill-health, but stresses individual responsibility for health as well. The main killers: cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke, accidents, mental illness are especially targeted. The paper is issued by the UK Parliament as Command Paper, Cm 4386. The site provides access to the full-text of the report". (Intute:Social Sciences,2006). The objective is to improve the health of everyone and the health of the worst off in particular. The program emphasizes on the fact that good health is inherent need of all, but many people spend most of their lives ill or die young from preventable diseases, this need should be effectively addressed with good support and the first comprehensive Government plan focused on the main killers: cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke, accidents, mental illness. They emphasize on the tougher but attainable targets. The objective is to reduce the death rate in people under 75 suffering from cancer by at least a fifth. The focus is to reduce the death rate in people under 75, suffering from coronary heart disease by at least two fifths. The death rates caused by accidents by at least a fifth and serious injuries caused by accidents by at least tenth. In the sensitive area of mental illness, to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth. If these targets are achieved there is opportunity to save lives by preventing up to 300,000 untimely and unnecessary deaths. To achieve this target the government is putting in more money: twenty one billion pounds for the NHS alone to secure a healthier population. The focus is also to raise awareness first by tackling smoking as the single biggest preventable cause of poor health. The aim is to integrate Government, and local government work to improve health, stressing health improvement as a key role for the NHS. The emphasis is on high health standards for all, not just privileged few. can make a difference. We want to see a new balance in which people, communities and Government work together in partnership to improve health. "Our drive for better health is in line with a background of real improvement in health: people live longer and healthier lives life expectancy is now 80 for women and 75 for men many infectious diseases of the past - such as cholera, diphtheria and polio - have been brought under control death in childbirth is now rare. But new problems arise, including AIDS and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease". (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). People can improve their own health, through physical activity, better diet and quitting smoking. Communities can tackle poor health, which springs too from a range of wider, community factors - including poverty, low wages, unemployment, poor education, sub-standard housing, crime and disorder and a polluted environment. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999) Health inequality is widespread: the most disadvantaged have suffered most from poor health. The Government is addressing inequality with a range of initiatives on education, welfare-to-work, housing, neighborhoods, transport and the environment which will help improve health. As well as taking action on our key targets, we are also tackling other important health issues like sexual health, drugs, alcohol, food safety, water fluoridation and communicable diseases - to put our new approach into practice. We want to see healthier people in a healthier country. People improving their own health supported by communities working through local organizations against a backdrop of action by the Government. We want to see everyone take the opportunity of better health - now, and for the future (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). The topic I have chosen for investigation and analysis is mental health. How the program aims to tackle the complex and intricate problem of identifying, managing, and controlling this complex problem is a subject of great interest. In the sensitive area of mental illness, the objective of the program to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth presents to me as a challenge more difficult to achieve than any other objectives in other areas related to health issues. This means saving up to 4,000 lives in total. "Mental health is as important to an individual as good physical health. Mental health influences how we feel, perceive, think, communicate and understand. Without good mental health, people can be unable to fulfil their full potential or play an active part in everyday life." (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). Mental health problems are a major cause of ill-health, disability and mortality. They include: depression and anxiety - extremely common in both urban and rural areas, often disabling and may last a long time if untreated, schizophrenia - relatively rare but often extremely severe, disabling and long-term, bipolar affective disorder (formerly known as manic depression) - relatively rare, episodic in nature and often very severe, dementia - common in older people, involving progressive deterioration of intellectual and social functioning, with no recovery anti-social personality disorder - which contributes to crime and aggression. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). People with mental illness may have difficulties in sustaining supportive relationships with friends, family and colleagues; with parenting; with work and other daily activities. They may have higher rates of substance misuse. These social consequences of mental illness increase the stigma and social exclusion suffered by people with mental illness and that, in turn, makes the original condition worse. More people who are worse off financially and socially, particularly in inner cities, have mental illness; more contemplate suicide and more actually commit suicide than people who are better off. For example: unemployed people are twice as likely to suffer from depression as people in work, children in the poorest households are three times more likely to have mental ill-health than children in the best-off households, people sleeping rough or using night shelters are four times more likely to have a mental disorder than the general population, people in prisons are at least fifteen times more likely to have a psychotic disorder than the general population, refugees have higher rates of mental disorder than the general population. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). In England, on average, more than one person dies every two hours as a result of suicide. Suicidal thoughts are quite common but are seldom acted on. But if a quick and lethal method of suicide is readily at hand someone might act impulsively without allowing time for second thoughts or rescue. So there are more suicides among those who have easy access to the means of killing themselves such as guns, certain medicines or chemicals. That is one of the reasons why suicide figures are high for some professional groups such as doctors, nurses, farmers, vets and pharmacists. 'mental illness has a high economic cost' Many people are mentally ill die prematurely from physical illness, especially respiratory illness, cancer or coronary heart disease. People with eating disorders and those involved in substance misuse are at highest risk, although the risks are almost as great for those with schizophrenia or major depression. People with mental illness may suffer considerable fear, mental pain and distress, sometimes for many years, taking a considerable toll on themselves and their families. They may be socially excluded because of their mental illness. Besides the immense cost in personal suffering which mental illness carries, it has a high economic cost as well. A recent study estimated that the cost in England amounted to 32.1 billion. it is possible to reduce the risk of various mental illnesses, such as depression by strengthening support systems; dementia by stopping smoking, adopting a healthy diet and being physically active; relapse in schizophrenia by specific family interventions; and suicide through a range of specific measures. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). "In young men, completed suicide is linked to specific mental disorders, namely, major depression, borderline personality disorder, and substance abuse. Co morbidity involving any of these disorders is frequently associated with completed suicide." (Lesage,Boyer,Vanier,Morissette, Menard-Buteau,Loyer,2007). Detailed research on the causes of mental illness has shown that the major risk factors for mental illness include: poverty, poor education, unemployment, social isolation stemming from discrimination against people with all types of physical disabilities, major life events such as bereavement, redundancy, financial problems, being the victim of crime, genetic predisposition, drug and alcohol misuse, developmental factors such as foetal damage and injury at birth and poor parenting. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). The influences and the impact which leads to suicides in serious and established mental illness can be attributed to diverse factors which cumulatively contribute to the manifestation of these symptoms. These factors can be categorized as fixed factors like genetic and disposition, environmental factors like habitat, financial factors like poverty, lifestyle and living conditions, the social conditions and adaptability and finally persons personal belief in health, and healthy living. The impact of the fixed factors like genetic disposition, chemical balance, positive or negative thinking, fetal damage or injuries related to birth are some of the unchangeable facts, which influences the onset of mental illnesses and tendency for suicide. These are like disabilities which are not in the hands of a person and cannot be altered or changed, but recognition of these factors can make on aware of his inherent tendencies and prepare him to seek help at the right time from the right person. A program which can help identify these symptoms through positive reinforcement would be an ideal source of support and help. The culture and country, where one inhabits and the attitude which people have greatly influence his thinking and response in a particular situation. This emotional response and mind set significantly determines the tendencies towards mental illness or suicide. If the environment is positive and supportive, the tendencies tend to be under control. But if the environment is one in which there is constant conflict and resentment, these factor can act as a trigger for mental illnesses leading to suicidal tendencies. The social order is an extension of the regional, cultural and environmental factors. It closely includes the close and intimate family and friend's relationship. If the relationship is healthy and sound s person with genetic disposition may never be encountered by a triggering factor. The role of childhood warmth and caring attitude of parents towards their children determine greatly their security and self esteem, two very important yardsticks for healthy person. Poor parenting can very much set the ground for insecurities resulting in the manifestation of suicidal tendencies and mental illnesses. The lifestyle, reflecting his social status, education and employment can adversely affect the symptoms of high insecurity and low self esteem, leading to mental instability, emotional insecurity and social discrimination. These factors together can make him a highly discontented individual more prone to trying substance abuse, delinquency and crime related anxiety and tensions. The cumulative result would be nervous breakdown created by inner turmoil and external dissatisfaction. If one is comfortable and well supported these tendencies will again not surface to the point of breakdown. Major life events such as bereavement, redundancy, financial problems, being the victim of crime are few other causes which would lead to distortion in a person's perception. Bereavement leads to sadness and depression, which can spiral a person into withdrawal fro his social responsibilities as well as economic responsibilities. These can lead to lack of motivation and unemployment, and stagnation. There is nothing left of value or worth in a person's life. These problems are further aggravated by financial problems where he may not be able to support himself or his family. His lack of fulfillment of responsibilities towards himself creates a vacuum where there is complete emptiness and darkness, which makes him fearful and aggravated. Sometimes, the personal experience of a negative nature as being subjected to crime of robbery, rape, torture, terror and kidnapping can be some of the unforeseen and unpredictable events which can leave a deep imprint of an internal wound which does not heal. The frequency of visit to this sensitively painful area can lead to psychotic manifestation of symptoms of delusion or schizophrenia. A person lives in an illusionary world of his own, far away from reality of existence. In such conditions, when the distrust in things around him is beyond control, he may attempt suicide. People with mental illness may have difficulties in sustaining supportive relationships with friends, family and colleagues; with parenting; with work and other daily activities. They may have higher rates of substance misuse. These social consequences of mental illness increase the stigma and social exclusion suffered by people with mental illness and that, in turn, makes the original condition worse. More people who are worse off financially and socially, particularly in inner cities, have mental illness; more contemplate suicide and more actually commit suicide than people who are better off. For example: unemployed people are twice as likely to suffer from depression as people in work, children in the poorest households are three times more likely to have mental ill-health than children in the best-off households, people sleeping rough or using night shelters are four times more likely to have a mental disorder than the general population, people in prisons are at least fifteen times more likely to have a psychotic disorder than the general population, refugees have higher rates of mental disorder than the general population. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). We can reduce suicide through the following steps: reduce access to methods of suicide, such as controlling the pack sizes for paracetamol available off the shelf , develop NHS Direct, networked to specialist mental health help lines, as a source of advice for those in mental distress , good assessment and follow-up of people who attempt to kill themselves, use good practice guidelines on looking after suicidal people in primary and specialist care, continue professional training about prompt detection, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of depression and assessment of suicidal risk, support people who are at high risk of suicide, particularly people with severe mental illness and those in high risk occupations, develop mental health promotion strategies in schools, workplaces and prisons which enhance social support and coping strategies and which tackle bullying, work with the media to ensure responsible reporting of suicides which neither glamorizes the event nor publishes the method used ,audit suicides in order to learn the lessons for prevention. In addition it is possible to reduce the risk of various mental illnesses, such as depression by strengthening support systems; dementia by stopping smoking, adopting a healthy diet and being physically active; relapse in schizophrenia by specific family interventions; and suicide through a range of specific measures. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). People caring for relatives with schizophrenia benefit from practical information and social support; support groups supplying a combination of practical help, social networking and advice on parenting have also been proven to have a dramatic impact on the mental health of young isolated mothers and on the cognitive and emotional development of their pre-school children. Rapid treatment for depressed mothers can prevent harm to the children who may otherwise experience cognitive and emotional damage. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). Under "Saving Lives Our Healthier Nation." Action plans have been implemented for the support and control of mental illness. The objective is to promote to promote good mental health and reduce not only mental illness but also its adverse impact on individuals and families we need to: ensure that mental health is regarded as a key outcome of each strand of the Government's agenda to promote social inclusion - from Sure Start to Better Government for Older People; from the Rough Sleepers Initiative to the Welfare to Work programme, and across the range of local initiatives, put in place the range of action to reduce suicide - within the NHS and partner agencies, the media and those who can help to reduce access to the methods of suicide, strengthen the capacity of primary care services to identify, assess and treat those with mental health problems, ensure effective care for those with severe mental illness; and better support for those who care for themPromoting good mental health is relevant to everyone. We can all enhance our mental well-being through some simple steps which make it easier for us to cope with the problems and pressures of daily life. These can be as straightforward as keeping in touch with our family and friends, and keeping involved with our local community. Making time for relaxation and for physical activity can reduce stress, while asking for help and talking problems over can also prevent mental health problems from building up. We are promoting these simple steps through national public education campaigns, for use in a wide range of settings. Schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and prisons should all play their part in improving mental health as well as improving health generally. (Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation,1999). Works Cited Intute:Social Sciences. 2006. Government publications. 9 Mar 2007 . (Intute:Social Sciences,2006) "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation." TSO. 5 July 1999. The Stationery Office. 9 Mar 2007 . 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