Is mental illness on the rise?!
Question:
Is mental illness on the rise?
or... do you think it is over diagnosed? I have bipolar I, and it is definitely real and a chemical problem for me. I'd heard one time that 3% of the population has bipolar, but it seems like so much more.
Answers:
Education about mental health is available now more than ever. Mental illness has a stigma attached to it which in the past prevented people from seeking help. Most people have some form of mental illness. Some acute and some not. Stress in daily living causes chemical changes in the brain. World events threaten peoples sanity. Increase in road rage, which never existed, indicates we want to get some place in such a hurry we would endanger ourselves and others. In proportion to the world population, I think 3% is underestimated. Many celebraties have brought attention to the issues of mental health/illness. Once it can be "out of the closet" and not stigmatized, the healthier we all will be.