INVISIBLE
VISIBLE
The Problem
- The National Institute of Mental Health found in 2013 1 in 4 adults−approximately 61.5 million Americans− experiences mental illness in a given year. (where did 1. Schizophrenia this come from and what year is this info)
2. Anxiety - In 2003,The World Health Organization has reported that 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the US 3. Mood Disorder and other developed countries are mental disorders. They predicted that by 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading causeDisorders of disability in the world for 4. Eating women and children. (who said this and what year) - The National Institute of Mental Health found in 2007— the most recent year for which we have statistics—it was the third leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 24. - In 2012, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that Facebook use may feed anxiety and increases a person’s feeling of inadequacy.
more research we began to look into areas of ability
- In 2012, Anxiety UK conducted a survey on social media use and its effects on emotions. The survey found that 53% of participants said social media sites had changed their behavior, while 51% of these said the change had been negative. There is no doubt that technology will only develop faster in the coming years, which means a predicted increase in mental illness diagnosis. Some of the most common social media and technology disorders include:
and the problems that disabled persons face on a
We began our journey researching human rights and the social stigmas that accompany it. Through
day to day basis. Delving deeper into the realm of disability we found that mental illness was an area that currently doesn’t gain enough recognition. Our product aims to change the 61.5 million American lives that currently suffer from mental health issues.
• Fear of missing out or FOMO: A form of social anxiety, whereby one is compulsively concerned that one might miss an opportunity for social interaction, a novel experience, profitable investment or other satisfying event. Through an increased reliance on the Internet, a psychological dependence to being online has developed and results in anxiety when one feels disconnected, thereby leading to a fear of missing out. • Nomophobia: The fear of being out of mobile phone contact. A 2010 study by the UK Post Office who commissioned YouGov, a UK-based research organization found that 53% of mobile phone users tend to be anxious when they “lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverage”. The study found that about 58% of men and 47% of connected, thereby leading to a fear of missing out.
In today’s society mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. Almost everyone knows someone in their life that has battled cancer or has lost their life to heart disease so the chances of you knowing someone suffering from a mental illness are extremely high. Even though the statistical chances of knowing a person with mental illness is high, you rarely see people wearing awareness apparel, holding events or banquets raising awareness, like other causes such as Pink Ribbon for breast cancer, Livestrong for testicular cancer and The Red Ribbon campaign for diabetes. Mental illnesses, in general, are thought to be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Some external factors thought to contribute and trigger chemical imbalances have been linked to chemicals within our environments in the food we eat, higher pressure work and life expectations over exposure to technology and electrical waves produced by these devices. are linked to cause mental illness such as rapidly developing technology, stressful environments, and exposure to chemicals in our food and air are growing exponentially, our nation seems to have a lack of perfunctoriness or apathy (Both mean the same thing) for those suffering alone and in silence , and for their own risk or someone they love potentially developing a mental illness within their lifetime. USA Today captured the United State’s lack of concern well stating: “The USA routinely fails to provide the most basic services for people with mental illness -- something the country would never tolerate for patients with cancer or other physical disorders” If we continue to down this path the future of our nation’s mental health is at stake.