Answer To: Assessment Task 3: Global Health ReportTask RationaleThe strategies used to tackle global...
Dr. Saloni answered on Feb 04 2023
Psychedelic Drugs and Mental Health
Background
Mental health is a composite of emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Sadly, depression affects a significant portion of the world's population, with over 300 million people, or 4.4% of the global population, suffering from it. The prevalence of mental illness varies across nations and communities. It's estimated that one in four individuals will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives (Aday et al., 2020). In the global north, 35–50% of individuals with severe mental conditions do not receive care, while the figure is even higher at 76–85% in the south. This disparity is also evident in the prevalence of civil society organisations addressing mental disorders, with low-income nations having 49% compared to 83% in high-income nations. Women and individuals living in poverty, as well as refugees and asylum seekers, are disproportionately affected by mental health issues (Chi & Gold, 2020).
The root causes of mental health issues are many and include economic and social deprivation, low educational attainment, underemployment, marginalisation, and violence, among others. Substance and alcohol abuse, abusive behaviour, and gender-based violence all have an impact on mental health. Failing to address mental health issues has far-reaching implications for society. Despite this, mental health receives a fraction of the funding and resources allocated to other illnesses, both in terms of government health budgets and development aid (Aday et al., 2021).
Living with a mental disorder can be debilitating and affect one's ability to function in daily life. People with depression are 40% more likely to develop physical health issues like metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Effective treatment can improve a person's ability to focus on daily tasks and increase motivation. The use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of mental health issues, including addiction, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression, is an emerging trend in clinical trials worldwide. This paper focuses on the mental health challenge in the USA and the historical and current use of psychedelic drugs as therapeutic agents in mental health (Davis et al., 2021).
Problem statement
Individuals struggling with psychosocial and mental health challenges make up a significant portion of the global population. There are a lot of things that can lead to these problems, such as neglect and abuse as a child, loneliness and isolation, stigma and discrimination, poverty and disadvantage, grief, chronic physical health problems, unemployment, homelessness, caregiving responsibilities, substance abuse, adult trauma, physical causes like head injuries or neurological disorders, and things like diet, work, lack of sleep, and drug use (Doss et al., 2021). Research suggests that approximately half of all people will experience a mental health challenge at some point in their lives. One in five adults and one in five children in the United States have a mental illness every year. One in every 25 Americans has a severe mental disorder like psychosis, major depression, or bipolar disorder (Aday et al., 2021).
Additionally, studies show that individuals with mental disorders in the US are also more likely to struggle with substance abuse, with 32.1 percent of adults experiencing co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. Unemployment rates are also higher among adults with psychiatric disorders compared to those without. High school students who exhibit signs of depression are twice as likely to drop out when compared to their peers. Mood disorders account for the majority of hospitalisations for individuals under the age of 45 in the United States (Chi & Gold, 2020).
It is believed that some mental illnesses may have a genetic component, with a higher likelihood of developing the same illness as a parent if they have schizophrenia. However, it is still unclear whether this is due to genetic mutations or other factors such as environmental factors or inherited coping, behaviour, and thinking patterns (Hall, 2022). Research has also shown that brain abnormalities may increase the likelihood of developing PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event and that a combination of biological, psychological, and genetic factors can impact both risk and protective factors for mental health. Even though mental health interventions are needed, access to good care is limited around the world, leaving a big gap in the care that is available (Doss et al., 2021).
According to research, certain brain abnormalities increase a person's susceptibility to developing PTSD following a traumatic experience. Unfortunately, there is a significant disparity between the need for mental health interventions and their accessibility and quality across the world. Both biological and psychological factors, such as emotional skills and genetics, play a role in both contributing to and mitigating the risk of developing mental health issues. Changes in neural activity or mechanisms can also impact protective and risk factors (Henningfield et al., 2022).
Global health strategy
Psychiatrists, psychologists, and neuroscientists have spent decades researching the relationship between the brain and mental health, and it is...