Category: Mental

Men’s Health Month

Here is something that I learned today – June is Men’s Health Month.  And, as we know, mental health is a large piece of men’s health too.

Here are some numbers from the organization Mental Health America (these numbers reflect the United States of America):

  • More than 4 times as many men as women are victims of suicide each year
  • The highest rates of suicide are in Caucasian men aged 85 and older
  • More than 6 million men are affected by depression every year
  • 90% of those diagnosed with schizophrenia by age 30 are men
  • Male suicide has been increasing since the year 2000 and is the 7th leading cause of death among men
  • Around 1 in 5 men develop alcohol dependency during their lifetime

As you can see, these are tough statistics to read.  And, if the numbers weren’t enough, there are also other considerations that may be more of an issue for men.  For a lot of them, the stigma of depression and mental illness weighs heavier than it does for women.  Men will deny they have an issue or think that they just need to “suck it up”.  As a result, men are less likely to seek help, and that can lead to negative outcomes.  No doubt this varies by culture, but overall in the United States, there tends to be the assumption that men are tougher and not allowed to show weakness or vulnerability.  Unfortunately, for a lot of people, having a mental illness is a sign of weakness in a man.  It’s a poor assumption that needs some education.

What are your thoughts?  Do you think that men have different challenges when it comes to mental health?  Is mental health for men even a consideration for most people?  My hope is that when it comes to depression and mental illness, we start to do a better job of realizing the different challenges that men may face.

Disabling Depression

In my last entry, I did a general review of the Mental Health First Aid class that I took that day.  Today, I want to discuss the one item I learned that I think will profoundly stay with me as I continue to learn more about and discuss depression.

In the class, we talked about how mental illness can be disabling.  Here, disabling was defined as something that impairs your ability to work, carry out activities of daily living, or have satisfying relationships.  Working from that definition, you can start to see how mental illnesses can be just as disabling as physical ailments.  In fact, the statement that got to me was that severe depression is just as disabling as quadriplegia (quadriplegia is when all of your limbs are paralyzed).

Wow.

Severe depression is just as disabling as quadriplegia?

But it didn’t take long to realize just how true that statement is, and it blew me away.  It made me think back to my dad, who would literally lie in bed all day and hardly move at all – it was as if he were paralyzed from the neck down.  Then, once I started thinking about it, I felt awful thinking that is what my dad went through.  Of course, this has happened and is happening to others too.  Regardless of whether someone has either quadriplegia or depression, they can both cause a paralysis that is incredibly devastating and disabling.

What do you think?  Do you agree with the statement that severe depression is just as disabling as quadriplegia?  If so, does that help you to better understand depression, whether it affects you personally or as someone who cares for someone with depression?  Indeed, I think it will stick with me, and it is helpful for anyone to understand how tough depression can be.

Bring the Heat

As I write this entry, we have been experiencing a considerable heat wave, especially since it is not even summer yet.  While certain precautions have to be made (such as sunscreen and drinking lots of water), I enjoy the hotter temperatures.  Of course, I really enjoy air conditioning too, so there is a balance for me.  However, if I had to choose between hotter temperatures or colder ones I would choose the hotter temps.

If you are like me and really enjoy warmth, you should consider ways to get that warmth if and when the weather outside does not align with your desired temperatures.  Adding layers of clothing and blankets can work, and there are also heating pads and blankets available.  However, there are also both dry heat and steam saunas available, and those can be very helpful.  Hot tubs are also a potential option.  For the most part I have seen dry heat saunas, steam saunas, and hot tubs at gyms, but I imagine other clinics or wellness centers have them.  If you are dealing with depression, you know that it can physically hurt too.  Heat therapy might be a way to help with physical issues but may also give you general sense of feeling better.

Of course, heat therapy is not for everyone, and there are restrictions on who can participate.  Most of the heat therapies also come with time restrictions to prevent dehydration and any serious events from occurring.  Like most other things, heat therapy has risks and benefits.  Check with a health care provider first before using saunas or hot tubs, and if you have questions about using a heating pad be sure to ask.

In my opinion, heat therapy should be a fairly straightforward option to consider.  I hope you will think about how heat therapy might be a way to help treat at least one aspect of depression.

Our Beautiful Minds

Awhile ago, I had the privilege of attending an event with our state NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) organization.  The event is called “Beautiful Minds”, and this is the second year that it has been held.  I won’t go into all of the details of the evening, but one of the overall themes is that we celebrate the fact that many well-known people (actors, authors, singers, etc.) experience or have experienced mental illness.  In the event, several actors portray well-known people we have had mental illness.  Some examples include Mark Twain, Lady Gaga, Rosanne Barr, Judy Garland, Jimmy Stewart, and Doris Day.  And, as we all know, mental illness can strike anywhere, and famous people are no exception.

Although I am sure there are multiple reasons why this event is so important, I know that having an event like this helps to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.  If well-known people can have mental illness and still be successful, it doesn’t have to define someone or hold them back.  People with mental illness can do amazing things, and Beautiful Minds helps to showcase that.  In fact, although mental illness (and depression, as I typically like to highlight) is not something anyone would choose, an event like Beautiful Minds highlights that wonderful things can still happen despite it.

Of course, most of us are not famous.  However, for anyone suffering from a mental illness, it is important to know that it does not have to hold you back.  You can still work to do the things that you want, and there is much respect for trying to take a mental illness and find a way to either recover from it and/or make it a part of your life somehow.

I think no matter what, we all have beautiful minds.  How about you?  I hope we can all appreciate how great our minds are.

Sharing Your Story

We all have a story to tell.  Our lives are full of ups and downs and twists and turns.  Among all of that, there is much to learn along the way.  If you have or have had depression, have you considered sharing your story with others?  I know that can be asking for a lot, and it is ok if you choose not to share your experience.  However, if you feel so inclined, I think sharing your depression story can be very helpful to others.

Today I shared my story of depression with some co-workers as part of a presentation on mental health.  I talked about how my dad struggled with depression and how it affected him, me, and our relationship.  It never seems to get any easier when I tell people that my dad was a victim of suicide.  But, after I share my story I feel better knowing that by sharing I might have helped another person understand they are not alone.  Or, by speaking out I have helped another find the courage to ask for help.  To me, sharing your story also helps people understand depression better and how it affects others.  The more people understand, the less they fear, and this can help reduce the stigma that is associated with depression and mental illness.

One organization that is really bringing this concept to light is called This Is My Brave, and they can be found online here: thisismybrave.org  This is definitely a very public way to share, but I encourage you to check out the website and also look to see what others have already shared.  I am sure there are many other ways to share out there, but my hope is that you understand the power and inspiration that your story can convey.  If now is not the right time to share, maybe another time will be.  And, the audience can range from one to millions, but the power of sharing is there no matter what form it may take.

Homelessness

Depression does not discriminate.  It affects everyone without regard to religion, culture, age, and gender, among many other categories.  Although depression is everywhere, today I want to focus on depression and homelessness, which can include many of its own challenges.

According to NAMI, around 26% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with serious mental illness.  Around 46% live with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders.  This comprises a large number of the homeless population.  And you may wonder, what comes first?  Does someone with mental illness end up homeless, or does homelessness lead to things such as depression?  I am not sure if there is any solid data on it, but my guess is that it goes both ways.  To me, homelessness is a huge stress that may just lead to depression.  However, if you are so depressed you can’t get out of bed, you may end up getting kicked out of your living space.  Regardless, this is a serious concern.

Unfortunately, I can’t do justice when speaking about this topic, because although I think I might know what is going on, I may be very wrong.  What I do know, though, is that depression (or any mental illness) and homelessness requires more help.  How do we attend to their mental health needs when more basic needs are not being met?  Will the mental illness be improved by helping with basic needs?  There are a lot of concerns here, and I struggle to know what the answers are.  However, an important piece is to understand how prevalent this issue is.  Once we realize how much this is happening, we can start to talk about it and come up with solutions.

What do you think?  Did you realize there was so much mental illness in the homeless population?  What are your thoughts on how we can help this group of people?

Other Nutrients

In my last entry, I discussed some of the main mineral deficiencies that may lead to depression or be a part of a combination of factors that cause depression.  Today, I want to touch on other nutrient deficiencies that may also lead to depression.  While again the list may not be comprehensive, it presents some common nutrients that are suspected of contributing to depressive symptoms.

The nutrients I will mention include: omega-3 fatty acids, a combination of the Vitamin B family, and Vitamin D.

Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for brain cell structure and function.  Omega-3 fatty acids can also help to reduce inflammation.  A lack of these particular fatty acids can lead to inflammation and brain cell issues, possibly leading to disease states such as depression.

There are many B vitamins (B1, B6, and B12 are examples) that are used in the body.  Many of these are a part of neurotransmitter creation and function, among other activities.  A lack of these vitamins can lead to mental health issues.  Of note, Vitamin B12 deficiency is well known for causing neurological and depressive type symptoms.

Vitamin D is used by the brain for many functions.  A lack of vitamin D can lead to depression or other mental health issues.  As a lot of people know, a good source of Vitamin D is sunlight.  If you live in colder climates, however, it can be hard to get enough Vitamin D in the fall and winter.

As I mentioned in my last post, if you have depression and are seeing a provider for it, consider asking them to test for these deficiencies or reviewing your diet to see about making some changes to your diet.  Again, supplements may also be considered.  Regardless, combined with looking at mineral deficiencies, this can be an easy way to address potential causes of depression.

Minerals

As I have mentioned before, there are a lot of ideas about what causes depression.  I have listed theories such as hormone issues, our diet, our environment, and genetics, among others.  It is thought that for a lot of people depression is the result of a combination of different causes, but today I would like to take a closer look at potential mineral deficiencies that may be linked to depression.

Although this is not necessarily a comprehensive list, a lack of the following minerals in the diet may lead to depression: iodine, selenium, zinc, magnesium, and iron.  Why are these minerals suspected to cause issues?

Iodine is an important mineral related to thyroid function.  If there is a deficiency in iodine the thyroid may not work as well, leading to things like a slower metabolism and depression.

Selenium is also an important mineral related to thyroid function, so a deficiency in selenium can lead to similar symptoms as what is seen with an iodine deficiency.

Zinc is important to many biochemical processes in the body, including those related to mental health.  A deficiency here can lead to mental health issues.

Magnesium is similar to zinc in that it is important to many biochemical processes in the body and can lead to mental health issues if deficient.

Iron is important to help carry oxygen in the blood.  A deficiency can lead to anemia, and symptoms can include a depression type of presentation.

If you have depression and are seeing a provider for it, consider asking them to test for these mineral levels to see if they might be playing a role in your depression.  If testing reveals deficiencies, changing parts of your diet might help your depression tremendously.  Or, testing might not be available or done at all, but a review of your diet could lead to making some changes.  Supplements may also be considered.  Overall, this might be a simple way to address a potential cause of depression that is commonly overlooked.

Mental Health First Aid

Most of us have heard about classes for CPR, choking, and first aid for physical wounds and injuries.  These classes provide a lot of helpful information and practice that can help save lives.  However, did you know that there are mental health first aid classes as well?

This idea is fairly new to me, and honestly I can’t believe I hadn’t heard about it before.  There are also probably several different ones out there, but the one I have heard about is called Mental Health First Aid.  You can find out more at their website, which is www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org  Essentially, these are classes that can cover both youth and adult mental health first aid.  The classes teach you how to work with someone who is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.  My assumption (since I haven’t taken it) is that they include both information and practice situations.  Much like the CPR and first aid classes, they can provide information that can help save lives.

After hearing about this, it made perfect sense to me.  If we have first aid for physical injuries, why not have first aid for the mental aspect?  As a result, I am working to set up a training that I can attend.  I have no doubt that I will learn skills that would be helpful for anyone to know.  After all, like CPR and first aid, we never really know when we might be called upon to help someone in either a physical or a mental crisis.

How about you – does first aid for mental health seem like a great idea?  Would you be interested in taking one of the classes I mentioned above?  What would you hope to learn in one of these classes?  For any of us touched by depression, I think these classes are worth considering.

On the Go Counseling?

Recently, I have noticed that there are several services available where you can see a therapist via your phone or computer at times that may be more convenient for you.  The services vary in how often you can utilize it and how it is paid for, but the overall idea is that you can essentially have “on the go” therapy sessions when you need them.  Is this a good idea?

Honestly, I think it is too early to tell.  Like my earlier post on telehealth, this essentially runs into some of the same concerns.  These services really fall under telehealth anyway, but are even more flexible than some of the more formal ones set up by clinics and provider groups.  For example, my dad still went to a clinic to then look at a screen with his provider on it.  What I am talking about here is logging onto your computer or phone from wherever you might be to instantly have someone to “visit”.

Again, in some ways I think this is pretty amazing, and I have honestly thought about using a service just to talk to someone about shorter term concerns that I have.  That is the beauty of these services – they can be pretty short term.  However, if you have depression these off and on services may not be so great – it may be better to establish a long term relationship with someone you can actually see face to face.  Not to say this is impossible here, but it might be harder to do.  But, there is also the idea that something is better than nothing.  And, if your depression is really challenging and you don’t even want to leave the house or your bed, something like this may be the place to start.

What do you think?  Do these services add value in some way?  Would you consider trying them?  My guess is that this will continue to grow, so hopefully we will see more benefits than issues with these services.