What is happening in the world with mental illness?

I've put a few YouTube videos up on the website to show a quick snap shot of what is happening worldwide with mental illness. It is apparent that a lot more needs to be done, especially in developing nations. One video that particularly touched me is the one on Bali, Indonesia.

I live in Perth, Western Australia, and Bali is a very popular desitnation for Australians, particularly West Australians, as on the west coast we are only a three hour flight from Bali, a beautiful tropical island.

To get to Bali costs about the same as going inter state in Australia and everything is so cheap in Bali. Getting tailored made clothes, jewelery, accommodation - it really is a tourist mecca.

I have not been there for a number of years, but the social worker in me came out last time I was there and I participated in a cultural walk, which takes you off the tourist track.

While I was in Bali what did strike me was the way a lot of tourists seemed to have a cultural bubble around them. It was as if the loacals did not exist other than to serve. The local culture did not seem to exist other than to be 'cute'.

Underneath the tourist trap lies another layer of Bali that is third world.

When you watch the video on Bali notice how mental illness is largely not recognised by the locals. Mental illness does not exist as they have not been educated in it. Therefore friends and relatives with mental illness are to be largely ridiculed, humoured and in some cases chained up to keep them out of the way.

It is a video that touched me heart.

If you have a story, please let me know by emailing support@afbmh.org

The link for the videos is http://www.afbmh.org/public/articles/TheWorld.htm

When things go wrong ...

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest, you must - but don't you quit

Life is queer with its twists and turns

As everyone of us sometimes learns

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out

Don't give up, though the pace seems slow

You might succeed with another blow

Success is failure turned inside out, the silver tint of the clouds of doubt

And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit

It's when things seem worst, That you MUST NOT QUIT!

(Author Unknown)

Dyslexia affects mental health at work

“To be honest I avoid stressful jobs because I can't cope with stress. When you're stressed you're more disorganised.”

Most people know that dyslexia affects spelling, reading and writing. But what many people don't realise is that dyslexia may also have an important impact on mental well-being.

When they talk about their dyslexia, many adults mention feelings of anger at how they were treated in the past, frustration at not achieving their full potential, and the impact that their experiences have had on their self-esteem. These emotional barriers to learning are often difficult to overcome.

To see the rest of the article visit http://www.afbmh.org/public/articles/DyslexiaAndMentalHealth.htm

Perception Is Relaity. Evidenced through these great pics!

They say perception is reality. That is, we see the world through own "filter". The simplest example is the saying "An angry person lives in an angry world".

Just to show that we do not always get all of the picture, we can not be sure of what is going on all the time, look at these photos, because as they show, there are many filters operarting in our lives that we do not have any control over.

This then makes me wonder how many things do we view that if we changed some filters, or became more open to the fact that we do not know everything, it might help us see things and life in a better light?

http://www.afbmh.org/public/media/Photos/PerceptionIsReality/index.htm

What are the chances your future children will have bi polar disorder?

If your grandmother and your father had bi polar disorder (in other words, one of your parents and one their parents) should you be worried that if you have children they may develop bi polar?


All that is really known is that the illness does run in families therefore to be cautious it would be prudent to say there is a higher chance that your children may develop bi polar disorder. It seems the chance increases the more of your family members have the illness and how close you are to them, as in father or mother as opposed to distant cousins.


The genes that carry the illness have not been identified yet so a DNA check cannot necessarily check currently on your chances.


The study of twins is intersting in terms of if one has the illness then what are the odds the other will get it? To find this out read more about this article http://www.afbmh.org/public/articles/WhatAreTheChancesMyFutureChildrenWillHaveBiPolar.htm

World Mental Health Day - 10 October 2010

World Mental Health Day on 10 October raises public awareness about mental health issues. The Day promotes more open discussion of illnesses, and investments in prevention and treatment services. WHO statistics for 2002 show that 154 million people globally suffer from depression, only one form of mental illness.

Mental, neurological and behavioural disorders are common in all countries around the world, causing immense suffering and staggering economic and social costs. People with disorders are often subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and higher death rates.

Suicide a leading cause of death with young people

The World Health Organisation has released it's findings on the first world wide study on causes of death among young people, 10 to 24 years. Road traffic accidents, complications with birth, violence and suicide are the leading causes.

For more go to http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2009/adolescent_mortality_20090911/en/index.html