Mental Health Has Become Global Crisis and Treatment Is Failing

“The situation is the representation of the failure in the mental health approach such as overreliance on medication while underlying causes are not properly examined.”

Mental health issues are a serious problem in our current western society. If you talk to health professionals, stories of struggle of everyday life are not uncommon. They are also not told by some strangers but in confidence by your spouse, siblings, friends, co-workers, neighbors and lately, more and more by teenagers. People realize that something in their life is not right but it seems that they have become less capable to cope with these difficulties. Some are able to get the necessary treatment and escape the pain, for others the path is different. They continue on a very slow downward spiral where noticeable changes in behavior are acknowledged by those closest to them. For this group and for others—those who are able to mask the pain and suffering—the ending of their life by suicide nevertheless becomes a shock to those closest to them: their family, friends and coworkers.

In our society no group is immune from these deadly phenomena. From preteens to the elderly, from low income earners to high income earners, from blue collar workers to white collars workers we are all susceptible.

It is unfortunate but we are a society with a fixation on quickness, e.g. drive through windows, fast food restaurants, even communication and it seems that the medical solution for this problem lies in the “quick fix” as well—by masking of the problem as opposed to dealing with the core or the real issues. For many the solution to their problem lies in an increase in alcohol consumption, the use of illegal substances, the abuse of prescription painkillers but also in the addiction to devices and media content. All of these can only add to the problem as opposed to providing the solution they are seeking.

Addictions are increasing at an alarming rate, marijuana use is up and so is alcohol, more females are drinking and there is a 7% increase in smoking. We have a crisis on our hands in all sectors of society because the underlying issue still remains: people are not happy and they are looking at external means in order to compensate for something missing deep within. Drugs will never satisfy the emptiness, they only work to temporarily forget the despair.

Lives today are out of line and need order; realignment is needed through proper nutrition, natural medicine, and a caring hand with lots of love and without judgment. The cure cannot be prescribed or found on the street, it runs so much deeper than that. As the rates continue to increase and as the media coverage shows the despair it would seem that society is just as lost or unwilling to provide a collective remedy. If it ever were to really be tackled it would mean a complete overhaul to what we are now doing, and I do not think they are willing to write that sort of a prescription.

Teenagers are troubled on many different levels: some of them do not get the appropriate support at home, others are completely lost in regards to their purpose or future goals. They also tend to fall for misleading and false representations that are presented through social media which they consume in an alarming quantity. Their “friends” are at constant reach via their devices—because otherwise they feel they would miss out on something—yet they will not talk to each other about the important issues they are facing. They are so much influenced by the empty images, false ideas and meaningless information that they think they are alone in their confusion, questions and problems. This way they got so alienated that they think they need to start cutting themselves just because their friends have not answered their texts during the winter break or they think that being unfriended on Instagram is one of the worst experiences. Many of them are clever, having good grades yet emotionally they are very unstable and vulnerable, unable to cope with difficult situations and solve problems. They will become our next generation of doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and translators not necessarily because they want to but because they have no idea who they are or who they could be.

According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011–2021[1] of the CDC the measures of youth mental health are getting worse over the years:

  • 42% of youth have persistent sadness or hopelessness
  • 29% experience poor mental health
  • 22% seriously considered suicide
  • 18% made a suicide plan
  • 10% attempted suicide

The situation is the representation of the failure in the mental health approach such as overreliance on medication—which tends to be ineffective in adolescents’ mood problems—while underlying causes as nutritional deficiencies, toxicities, microbiome disruptions, hormonal imbalances, genetic factors are not properly examined.

ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), which is almost always treated with medications, is a good example of how the system fails those affected when in fact the data suggests that a number of nutrient deficiencies and dietary components appear to cause or contribute to the condition. When medical treatment for ADHD involves added side effect such as strokes, convulsions, hallucinations, depression and suicide you certainly have the wrong medication. The main problem is that Physicians group ADHD behavior but do not check if the patients have any other underlying medical conditions such as dietary triggers. Instead, they are grouped as mentally unstable.

The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry conducted a study involving 7-year-old Swedish students which concluded that pure ADHD is rare, even in a general population sample. “The children were followed up 2–4 years later. Eighty-seven per cent of children meeting full criteria for ADHD (N = 15) had one or more—and 67% at least two—comorbid diagnoses. The most common comorbidities were oppositional defiant disorder and developmental coordination disorder. Children with subthreshold ADHD (N = 42) also had very high rates of comorbid diagnoses (71% and 36%), whereas those without ADHD (N = 352) had much lower rates (17% and 3%).”[2]

Medical comorbidity—more specifically, psychiatric comorbidities—occur alongside eating disorders. Understanding that comorbid conditions are intertwined with an eating disorder, and treating both the eating disorder and co-occurring illness (in this case, ADHD) are critical in dealing with the issue for recovery. The core issue, the diet, must be addressed first before patients can be treated therapeutically for ADHD.

The western diet is the main cause of ADHD; hidden refined sugar is one of the main culprits. The clinical Raine Study[3] followed 2,868 live births, and 14-year follow-up. Two major dietary patterns were identified: “Western” and “Healthy.” A higher score for the Western dietary pattern was associated with ADHD diagnosis (odds ratio = 2.21, 95% confidence interval = 1.18, 4.13) after adjusting for known confounding factors from pregnancy to 14 years. ADHD diagnosis was not associated with the “Healthy” dietary pattern. Conclusion: a Western-style diet may be associated with ADHD.

After dietary factors are addressed, treatment can begin. I would recommend L-Tryptophan (fermented) with P5P to enable the Tryptophan to cross the blood-brain barrier in order to reach the cell membranes. Clinical studies suggest 800 to 1,000mg per day.

L-Tyrosine (fermented) is useful, especially in cases where adrenaline and dopamine metabolism problems exist. Therapeutic range is between 6,000 to 10,000mg per dosage. This is not to be used by individuals who are unable to synthesize L-Tyrosine from L-Phenylalanine (i.e. individuals with phenylketonuria).

GABA has demonstrated an amazing potential for treating ADHD—mainly as a calming agent that helps to relax the brain, which is essential for ADHD. Positive results have been reported with doses between 1000-1500mg, 2 to 3 times per day.

Natural ways are definitely providing benefits in many situations just like in one of the stories I want to share with you. A while ago our computers needed tech service. Knowing the nature of our business, the tech asked to speak with me in regards to his teenage son, a straight-A student who had lost his zest for life. He refused to get out of bed or eat, being in deep depression. Because of these drastic changes his parents took him to a psychiatrist who placed him on prescription drugs making matters even worse. I suggested his son to use our Kava Kava and the tech returned in gratitude a few days later saying that his son had returned to normal after using it. He said “how would I have known if I would not have met you, the psychiatrist had wanted to increase the prescription drug dosage.” I just smiled and said I have been battling the same problem for 36 years: pharma controls the system while we pick up the pieces and offer prevention. There are also great reviews regarding our low dose Lithium Homeopathic about people’s experiences on how their mental illness was treated without side effects. Neurotransmitter Support is another favorite of mine, I take three every morning: what a difference for mental clarity. It works by opening the brain’s synapsis to ensure that the brain is firing optimally, one recent testimonial stated Neurotransmitter Support ended the pain of diabetic neuropathy.

Despite studies and facts mentioned above, the system wants a very different solution: a parliamentary committee has recommended in a report tabled in the House of Commons that Canada’s assisted dying laws should be expanded to include minors. “After hearing from nearly 150 witnesses and reviewing more than 350 briefs on Canada’s medically assisted dying (MAiD) program, the special joint committee of MPs and senators concluded that minors deemed to have the appropriate decision-making capacity should be eligible for assisted death.”[4]

I must state that using MAiD may be acceptable for adults who are of sound mind and that life is unbearable to continue, they can make an informed decision and decide on their fate, but not a child who has become so confused by societies doing they become brainwashed in school to the point they cannot even decide on what gender they are. They cannot speak out on being confused because their peers are also confused and rather than saying what they really feel they suppress their true feelings so they do not appear in opposition to the agenda pushed down their throats. Since this issue just adds to the pile of confusion with our educational system and the lack of family quality time—because everyone must deal with their immediate emergency on Twitter, Facebook or Messenger—the kid feels alone even though they may have 10,000 friends on social media.

We cannot offer the missing pieces of the puzzle from someone’s personal life or change their surroundings or circumstances, although we wish we could. We can provide something else that plays an important role in their self-development and that is recognition and acceptance without judgment in order to educate to help overcome and to continue the journey gaining control over the body, mind and spirit.

References:

[1] CDC, 2021.

[2] Kadesjö, Björn & Gillberg, Christopher. 2001.

[3] Dontje, Manon L et al. 2019.

[4] Wright, Teresa. 2023.