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Mental Health Europe Press Release – August 2, 2011
To read the entire Mental Health Europe Press Release Click Here
Summary: The recent tragic killings in Norway have left 77 people dead and drawn the attention of the entire world. Anders Behring Breivik carried out a shocking attack that demonstrated the dangers of extremism. Many in the media have labeled him a “madman”, a term that Mental Health Europe believes is offensive towards people with mental health problems and contributes to the discrimination and stigmatization they face on a daily basis. According to the World Health Organization, people with mental health problems suffer the most discrimination of all people with disabilities, often as a result of ignorance and prejudice. Reliable studies have shown that mental health problems play no part in the majority of violent crimes and that people with mental health problems are more likely to be victims, rather than perpetrators, of violence. In the case of the Norway tragedy, Breivik may or may not suffer from mental health problems, but no one should instantly assume that he must have mental health problems in order to commit such heinous crimes. By calling Breivik a madman, the media further reinforces damaging stereotypes that affect one of the most vulnerable groups in society.

Calgary Herald – August 13, 2010
Summary: The Honorable Michael Kirby, Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, has been awarded this year’s medal of honour by the Canadian Medical Association for his work in bringing greater awareness of mental health issues to the Canadian public and helping diminish the stigma and discrimination suffered by the mentally ill. According to Kirby, “If people get the right help, there is hope. But you can’t even get started if people aren’t willing to talk about it. Once we take away the stigma, we can begin the work.”

Bloomberg Businessweek – August 12, 2010
Summary: A new U.S. study shows that more cases of severe mental illness are being reported among college students than a decade ago and the use of prescription medication by students to treat psychiatric illness has also risen significantly. The author of the study, John C. Guthman, director of student counseling at Hofstra University, analyzed diagnostic records concerning 3,300 undergraduate and graduate students who had sought college counseling at some point between 1997 and 2009. “If we look at the average college student and their level of psychological and emotional functioning and distress, on the whole they are not necessarily worse off than they were 10 years ago,” explained Guthman. “However, there are some students who are outliers and they have some difficulty in some areas. And these relatively few students that present in significant distress seem to have increased to a greater percentage than they were a decade ago.” Some of the theories offered to explain these changes are: more people are going for a college degree, colleges are seen as more supportive environments than before, improved medications are now available, and accessing support elsewhere is more difficult in the current health care environment.

PharmaTimes – July 19, 2010
Summary: According to a recent article by Lynne Taylor, a new study by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) reveals that 313 new medicines to treat mental health disorders are now either in clinical trial or awaiting FDA review. These new products include medicines for depression, addictive disorders, dementias (including Alzheimer’s disease), schizophrenia and others. The study points out that mental disorders account for over 15% of the burden of disease in “established market economies, which is more than the disease burden caused by all cancers.” Ken Johnson, senior vice president of PhRMA, says that a high priority is tackling dementia, and researchers are using “cutting-edge technology to develop therapies to delay or even reverse the ravages of dementia.” According to an estimate by the U.S. Alzheimer’s Association, the health care system could save $170 billion by 2030 if a new treatment that delayed the onset of dementia by 5 years was available in 2015. Mr. Johnson adds that “success by even one of the 90 drugs being researched for dementia would reduce an untold amount of suffering by patients and their families – such treatments can also save the health care system billions of dollars, especially as baby boomers age.”

SAMHSA Press Release – July 8, 2010
Summary: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in collaboration with The Advertising Council, announced the launch of a public service advertising campaign to promote recovery from mental health problems within the Hispanic/Latino community. The goal is to educate and inspire young adults to talk openly about mental health issues. According to SAMHSA, 1 in 7 Hispanic/Latino young adults experienced serious psychological distress in the past year. Despite the high prevalence among this group, only 28.3 percent received care within the past 12 months. “Raising awareness that effective treatments for mental illnesses are available and that people recover, can encourage those in need to seek help, said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “This outreach to the Hispanic community will help open dialogue about supporting friends or family members with mental health problems in a culturally relevant way.”

The Washington Post – May 10, 2010
Summary: Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s new book, “Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis” describes the obstacles faced by people with mental illness and offers some ideas about how to remove these obstacles.  Carter’s goal is better treatment for people with mental illness, both in the medical and general sense. “Stigma is the most damaging factor in the life of anyone who has a mental illness,” Carter writes. “It humiliates and embarrasses; it is painful; it generates stereotypes, fear, and rejection; it leads to terrible discrimination.” She also points out that, in addition to stigma, people with mental illness are under-served by the health care system and are more likely to die prematurely than others. Her suggestions include: volunteering in the community, contacting Congress, watching your children for signs of mental illness and encouraging more open communication.