Health

The State of Global Mental Health and Mental Illness

According to recent estimates, more than 1 in 10, or nearly 800 million, people worldwide are living with some form of mental illness. And yet, of those hundreds of millions, only about 20% actually receive the treatment they need.

The reasons for this profound gap in care are many and varied. Regardless of the particular causes, however, the results are largely the same: People are suffering. Families are suffering. Communities are suffering. And lives are being needlessly lost.

This article explores the current state of global mental health, the origins of care disparities, and strategies for resolving them.

Inequities in Access

One of the most significant challenges in global mental health today is the wide disparity in access to care. In developing countries, for example, up to 85% of individuals with severe mental illness receive no treatment at all. Indeed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the care gap for severe mental illness is up to 90% in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMIC).

In Thailand, for example, only about 3.5% of government health expenditures are directed toward mental health. Additionally, there are, on average, only about 25 psychiatric units, 17 psychiatric hospitals, and 7.29 mental health professionals for every 100,000 people.

Even in developed nations, such treatment gaps can be profound, often as high as 50% for some countries. In the United States, for example, nearly 20% of all adults are experiencing or have experienced some form of mental illness, with nearly 10 million of those suffering from serious mental illness (SMI). And yet more than 30% of people with an SMI received no care at all, due principally to a severe shortage of mental healthcare providers not only in the US but around the world. Although nearly 1 in 10 people experience mental health challenges, mental health professionals constitute less than 1% of the global workforce. That means that a lot of people are getting left behind.

The Persistence of Stigma

It’s not only a lack of access to care providers that is causing millions of people to suffer without treatment. The on-going stigmatization of mental illness remains a significant problem worldwide. And the problem doesn’t just affect developing countries.

In the US, for example, of the 44 million Americans with mental health challenges, only about half seek care. And the majority of those who refuse to pursue treatment cite the fear of stigmatization as a primary reason why.

Perhaps even more alarming is the reality that stigmatization isn’t just affecting adults. A study of children’s mental health in Thailand found that only about 30% of children felt their parents loved them and that more than half a million Thai children are experiencing mental health concerns that are severe enough to require treatment. However, stigmatization not only deters people from seeking care, but it also leads to a pervasive silence surrounding mental illness. And that means that children (and adults as well) likely do not understand what they are feeling or how to talk about it.

What Is to Be Done

To be sure, one of the first and most important steps that can be taken to improve the state of mental healthcare worldwide is to invest more time, money, and resources in increasing access to care. The shortage of trained mental healthcare care providers is perhaps the most significant barrier to treatment globally and, as such, the training and recruitment of mental health professionals in shortage areas must be a priority.

Important initiatives to end the stigma of mental illness are already underway worldwide. Japan has taken an aggressive stance toward suicide reduction and awareness-raising. This is crucial if people are at last to receive the care they need, particularly as many who face mental health challenges may not even realize that what they are feeling is a cause for concern.

For example, the symptoms of bipolar and unipolar depression can be difficult to detect both for sufferers and primary care providers alike. And when left untreated, these symptoms can quickly exacerbate, increasing the risk of self-harm or even suicide. This is yet another instance in which education, awareness-raising, and de-stigmatization saves lives and makes lives better.

The Takeaway

Mental health is a pervasive global concern. Even though nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide suffer from some kind of mental health concern. And yet many never receive treatment. Worse, there are significant care disparities, with those in lower and middle-income countries far less likely to receive care than their counterparts in developed nations. And that makes global health not only an individual, community, or national issue, but a global humanitarian and social justice issue as well. Increasing access to care, reducing stigmas, and raising awareness are all key if our global human family is to know true health and happiness.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP