Mental health week?

I read the other day that this week was designated as National Mental Health Week.......found that on the internet...no local news or in my daily newspaper...Tired of being thrown under the bus.....while there are major developments happening in cancer research, altimeihers, dementia, what about mental illnesses.....I can say that I'm no better off today than I was 30 years ago......other than steps I took to help myself..I see my P. every 3 months....nothing has changed in treatment......my general Phys. seems to be e up on better treatments.....am I alone? I don't think so....after reading the majority of the posts here...it seems it doesn't matter where you live....improvements are lacking way behind....whats the deal?

A lot of it has to do with the fact that the cause is still different for each person, which makes research hard.

I agree though, we need to extend the treatment of mental illness and get rid of the stigma.

I agree....iv'e been told that people like myself who suffer from depression have a chemical imbalance in the brain....I thought at first it was just a diagnoses....although now I know that it most likely is the culprit...I've tried to wean myself off of medications...only to crash and burn....that said I have regulated myself in knowing that I will be on medications for the rest of my life......that is the theme each and everytime I meet with my support group....I pray each night for a newer and less invasive treatment.....again...thanks for your understanding......I really have no one else who cares to listen to my plights....family nor friends...conselures///s[? Artie

I know how you feel, it is utterly ridiculous how they don't put more effort in treating the mentally ill, we are just forgotten completely and put in the shadows, they don't even care if we are suffering it feels like. I pray hard that things will change in my life, and others lives who are mentally ill, its a long hard battle, especially with the whole mental illness stigma, but we have God and each other, thats how I look at it anyways.

Hugs! I'm glad this forum can be a place where we both can come to talk about our issues, free of worries about being put down or belittled. It's hard when you don't have a support network in your life - I'm in the same bind right now. No one really to talk to, apart from this forum.

Your post makes me wonder if depression/mental illness is a new thing, or if it's been around as long as there have been homo sapiens. I wonder how people treated their symptoms before big pharma took over everything. Are there more natural alternatives? I know a glass of Lemon Balm Tea does wonders for me, it's like sunshine in a glass. But is it a cure? Far from it.

I never had any luck with depression meds personally, I tried many different brands, none ever made a noticeable difference in my life. I quit taking them eventually, figuring they were just a waste of time. I don't like screwing with my brain chemistry unless I know it's actually beneficial.