As the healthcare debate rages in America, another debate is raging, too, and that's the mental health debate. Recently it was reported that since President Trump took office, mental health issues are on the rise. Those who are suffering are complaining about how anxious the election of Trump has made them. Is the election of a new president really a cause for alarm, and could his election really drive Americans into a mental health crisis? This writer would say no, because personal responsibility is never a factor in these debates.
Personal responsibility in the healthcare debate
One issue that is seldom addressed in the health care debate is personal responsibility. Since most diseases are preventable, there are many things that Americans can do to improve their overall health like exercise, diet, and adequate sleep. Reducing stress is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle, and exercise can play a big part in that. Taking a pill to relieve a condition instead of addressing the root cause of the illness creates a lifelong patient. For those who choose to use Conventional medicine to address their issues this way, they should be the ones to bear the cost. When individuals bear the cost of their choices, it might just motivate them to look for solutions that actually work and are much less expensive than taking pills for the rest of their lives.
Collective Evolution reported that there are facts about depression and ADHD that most doctors may not know. Because of this, they may be overprescribing medications for conditions like depression that could be better addressed by tackling the root causes. At one time, only psychiatrists prescribed medication for mental health issues.
Now, any doctor can prescribe these medicines. Much of the conventional research that doctors cite when they are prescribing these drugs really doesn't exist. Instead, the medical profession is selling out to the pharmaceutical industry in terms of teaching, research, and the practice of medicine. Because of this, medicine is no longer about curing a patient.
It's about creating one, and it creates a patient for life -- a very lucrative industry.
Tackling mental health in a way that works
The Advertiser in Australia reported that small businesses tackling mental health in a positive way can actually lead to positive results for small business. When small businesses choose to take a leading role in the mental health debate and capitalize on opportunities, they can save a lot of money in their businesses and help their employees too.
It is estimated that in Australia alone over $11 billion is lost to mental health issues, so imagine the cost in larger countries like the United States, which is the country with the largest economy in the world. Having small businesses get involved can help employees get the help they need while saving businesses billions.
Since businesses operate on a profit motive, they'll seek to find cost-effective ways to successfully treat and cure the issues of their employees, resulting in billions, or even trillions of dollars in health care expenditures being saved.
The bottom line is that in order to provide cost-effective mental health and cost-effective healthcare, patients must take personal responsibility for their health instead of taking a pill to solve the problem. Treating the root causes of the illness and curing the patient will result in billions of dollars saved and help many people live healthier and happier lives. There will always be patients for doctors to treat. Those who choose conventional medicine over a cure should bear the cost. Although mental health has often been stigmatized, society can no longer afford to ignore this issue.
