"The survey also found that 23.8 percent of women had some form of mental illness, compared with 15.6 percent of men."
I just saw the Drudge Report link to this article stating that nearly 1 out of 5 Americans had mental illness in 2009. The article indicates that unemployment might be causing an increase in mental illness:
Since we are in a "Mancession" where more men are losing jobs than women, it's interesting that fewer men were found to be mentally ill, given that they are the majority losing jobs. However, it could be that men do not report their symptoms as much as women do, or it could be biological--that women are more susceptible to depression or mental illness under stress. What's your take?
The 2009 mental health survey hints at the impact of record unemployment rates, which last year hit a 25-year high as struggling employers slashed jobs to cope with a weak economy.
For many, lost employment meant loss of health insurance, leaving many of the nation's mentally ill unable to get treatment.
Since we are in a "Mancession" where more men are losing jobs than women, it's interesting that fewer men were found to be mentally ill, given that they are the majority losing jobs. However, it could be that men do not report their symptoms as much as women do, or it could be biological--that women are more susceptible to depression or mental illness under stress. What's your take?
Labels: psychology
posted by Helen at 9:29 AM
14 Comments:
Most women are bat Sh** crazy anyway so no surprise there.
Most men are taught not to burden other people with their issues. Since men commit more suicides then women I would think their depression runs a lot higher. They just don't talk about it since they are told from a young age not to.
TO: Dr. Helen
RE: Heh
Count me 'in'. Just ask any atheist.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Yeah. I'm a 'nut', but I'm screwed on the right 'Bolt'. -- Pastor John Hagee]
The VodkaPundit noted that 20% of Americans are reported to have mental illness, and at the same time, 20% identify themselves as liberals. Just saying...
My take is:
Way too many people are having the normal trials and tribulations of life redefined as mental illness.
I agree with Zach and Harold. Men are socialized to shut up and work. Not that that is a horrible thing. When I was working on the house before we moved back in I was generally amused by how much the women talked while they worked. The men were routinely silent or would perhaps whistle.
Anyone else notice that?
Trey
Having dated a few women before I got married, I am not at all surprised to see that 1/4 of the pool of women can be expected to be mentally ill, even when chosen at random.
trey, it depends what you are working on.
barry, as a man who dated many women after leaving my ex and re-marrying (not that that is a good thing....) i have noticed that the majority of those women were exhibiting borderline tendencies along with various degrees of neuroses, especially around issues of intimacy...and also elevated levels of narcissism.
phew.
one or two i wish well as they deserve to find a man to spend their life with, it was just that we weren`t a good fit in one way or another, but a good 75% (wanted to say 80%) were insufferable feminists with ridiculously high expectations for most everything (you can`t sit at the table and bash all men as porn-watching assholes while i`m sitting right there, you really can`t.)
are they mentally ill though? they are mostly holding good jobs, kids in school, ex making regular payments, and a good ring of female friends in similar circumstances to talk to.
they just seem to be holding on to some cinderella fantasy position that they bought when they were seven and no matter how much reality hits them over the head, they still keep on chasing princes.
I'm with Zach and Trey. Boys and men are taught from early days to "deal with it."
Frankly, I think that is a major reason men's issues get ignored. African-Americans got fair treatment by not putting up with it anymore. Women got the vote and workplace fairness by not putting up with it. "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" is how you make society sit up and change.
I recall an article in Time or Newsweek by Salman Rushdie shortly after his fatwa. He said something like, "Freedom is never bestowed; it is always taken." I think that is a truism of human society.
When men stop trying to be victimized versions of Gary Cooper, things will change. But not before.
I don't buy it. When a study is finding that 1 in 5 people are "ill", there's something wrong with the study or with the definition of "ill"
I second countryboy69's observation.
Only 23.8%? Are you sure that that isn't the percentage who aren't mentally ill?
"there's something wrong with the study or with the definition of 'ill' "
In this case, it's not "or", it's "and".
Does anyone think that an organization which monitors "mental health" is going to come out with results which show that we're all 100% hunky-dory?
It's like expecting the NAACP to do a study to investigate incidences of racism, and finding none.
Everyone in authority has a vested interest in labeling most people as deviant, all the better to control us with rules and regulations.
Ask the Soviets.
This is where I wish I could write a stirring defense of the American Psychological Association.
I cannot.
I am no longer a member of that commie PC front group.
Trey - who appologizes to commies everywhere
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