Aim of projectbrainsaver
Short, middle and long term goals
As you can tell there are many reasons for this project, not least my own sanity and future sanity!
Have a look at the research out there, The World Health Organisation ( http://www.euro.who.int/HEN/Syntheses/mentalservice/20040720_2 ) for instance was where I found some of the most disturbing figures about the future state of our heads and our society if things carry on as they seem to be doing.
Then there is The Mental Health Gap Action Programme which says
Facts
• Mental, neurological, and substance use disorders are common in all regions of the world, affecting every community and age group across all income categories.
• 14% of the global burden of disease is attributable to mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.
• Depression is the fourth leading cause of disease burden globally and is
projected to be the second leading cause in 2030.
• Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide – 80% of whom live in
low-income countries.
• Worldwide, suicide is the third leading cause of death in young people.
• Harmful use of alcohol is the fifth leading risk factor for premature death and disability in the world.
• More than 75% of patients with mental, neurological, and substance use
disorders in many low-income countries do not have access to treatment.
• The associated stigma and violations of human rights hasten the decline into poverty and hinder care and rehabilitation.
• Economic costs as well as non-economic criteria, such as equitable access
to health care, human rights protection, and poverty reduction need to guide the process of setting priorities in mental health.
• Most countries allocate a small fraction of the resources that are needed
to be able to adequately respond to mental, neurological, and substance
use disorders. One in three countries does not have a specific budget for
mental health.
http://www.who.int/mental_health/mhGAP_flyer.pdf
The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister bought out a report (in 2004) on Mental Illness and Social Isolation in the UK. I asked them if I could use a quote from it because it was apt for this project. They said yes.
“For some of us, an episode of mental distress will disrupt our lives so that we are pushed out of the society in which we were fully participating. For others, the early onset of distress will mean social exclusion throughout our adult lives, with no prospect of training for a job or hope of a future in meaningful employment. Loneliness and loss of self-worth lead us to believe we are useless, and so we live with this sense of hopelessness, or far too often choose to end our lives. Repeatedly when we become ill we lose our homes, we lose our jobs and we lose our sense of identity. Not only do we cost
the government money directly in health, housing and welfare payments, we lose the ability to contribute our skills and economically through taxes.
“So we are perceived as a social burden. We lose sight of our potential, and when we try to move on, discrimination and stigma prevent us getting jobs that use our skills and experience and push us out of housing and education. The jobs we do get are poorly paid, and don’t utilise our skills and experience.
And there are practical considerations – we stand to lose our financial security, whether state benefits or private insurance, when we attempt to rebuild our lives. We also stand to lose the health and social services that we find helpful, so that at the time when we most need support, our coping mechanisms are undermined. Moving back into society becomes a risky business.”
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_exclusion_task_force/~/media/assets/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
Have a look at the research out there, The World Health Organisation ( http://www.euro.who.int/HEN/Syntheses/mentalservice/20040720_2 ) for instance was where I found some of the most disturbing figures about the future state of our heads and our society if things carry on as they seem to be doing.
Then there is The Mental Health Gap Action Programme which says
Facts
• Mental, neurological, and substance use disorders are common in all regions of the world, affecting every community and age group across all income categories.
• 14% of the global burden of disease is attributable to mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.
• Depression is the fourth leading cause of disease burden globally and is
projected to be the second leading cause in 2030.
• Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide – 80% of whom live in
low-income countries.
• Worldwide, suicide is the third leading cause of death in young people.
• Harmful use of alcohol is the fifth leading risk factor for premature death and disability in the world.
• More than 75% of patients with mental, neurological, and substance use
disorders in many low-income countries do not have access to treatment.
• The associated stigma and violations of human rights hasten the decline into poverty and hinder care and rehabilitation.
• Economic costs as well as non-economic criteria, such as equitable access
to health care, human rights protection, and poverty reduction need to guide the process of setting priorities in mental health.
• Most countries allocate a small fraction of the resources that are needed
to be able to adequately respond to mental, neurological, and substance
use disorders. One in three countries does not have a specific budget for
mental health.
http://www.who.int/mental_health/mhGAP_flyer.pdf
The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister bought out a report (in 2004) on Mental Illness and Social Isolation in the UK. I asked them if I could use a quote from it because it was apt for this project. They said yes.
“For some of us, an episode of mental distress will disrupt our lives so that we are pushed out of the society in which we were fully participating. For others, the early onset of distress will mean social exclusion throughout our adult lives, with no prospect of training for a job or hope of a future in meaningful employment. Loneliness and loss of self-worth lead us to believe we are useless, and so we live with this sense of hopelessness, or far too often choose to end our lives. Repeatedly when we become ill we lose our homes, we lose our jobs and we lose our sense of identity. Not only do we cost
the government money directly in health, housing and welfare payments, we lose the ability to contribute our skills and economically through taxes.
“So we are perceived as a social burden. We lose sight of our potential, and when we try to move on, discrimination and stigma prevent us getting jobs that use our skills and experience and push us out of housing and education. The jobs we do get are poorly paid, and don’t utilise our skills and experience.
And there are practical considerations – we stand to lose our financial security, whether state benefits or private insurance, when we attempt to rebuild our lives. We also stand to lose the health and social services that we find helpful, so that at the time when we most need support, our coping mechanisms are undermined. Moving back into society becomes a risky business.”
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_exclusion_task_force/~/media/assets/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
