6 minute read
Mind Matters: is mental health a global epidemic?
There are several recent events in the news today that pull the heartstrings and tug at the souls of many of us. Trauma and stress are everywhere. Trauma and stress are everywhere. It affects everyone, all age groups, with no bias. How the brain deals with stress is not the same for each of us. Some people can bury their stress deep down. Others, build walls around their pain until the pain starts breaking through. PTSD can be mild, or it can be severe. Sufferers of PTSD may have minimal to significant physical, behavioral, and mental health issues. Covid kept many people and children indoors. In-person human interaction and contact declined, and people missed people. Talking to your grocery clerk was the highlight of your day. Depression hit so many of us during covid, especially the children. The recent Uvalde, Texas school incident has affected several families and a school full of children for years to come. PTSD affects the youngest victims most often. What impact will this have on who they are? Is it possible to heal a world suffering from the effects of war, domestic violence, and physical abuse? Studies and data suggest that support is needed for these children and their families both here and abroad. The children of our world are the future, how will we assist them? The effects of PTSD affect about 6% of the populous in the United States.
"Children may experience acute PTSD, with hyperarousal, re-experiencing, and sleep disruption, or chronic PTSD, characterized by dissociation, restricted affect, sadness, and detachment (6). "Exposure to trauma increases both internalizing and externalizing reactions in children." (“War and Children - American Journal of Psychiatry”) (American Journal of Psychiatry Residents Journal, July 1, 2017, | Author Michelle Liu, M.D.)”
Meet Rayan, a lifelong cannabis user who is 79 years old. Originally from the Middle East, he relocated to the US in 1972. Rayan grew up in a country constantly at odds. He does not discuss politics or the state of his country.
"Our family was from a village that is over four thousand years old. One day we were told that everyone must leave, and we could no longer live in our homes. Everyone left and took what they could. Our path led us to the hills, where we took refuge in caves with other families. I am not sure how long we lived in the caves, but it was several months."
What impact did this have on your family? "In our home, we did not discuss such topics. Our father rented a house and we continued living. Displacement of families was a constant occurrence. There is an easy tendency to hate during these times and want to fight. It will take a new generation to stop the fighting.
If not, it will become a repetitive cycle for each generation. There have been times of peace, but they were not long-lasting. There was and is always someone dying. Families were always in mourning. A bullet struck my father's stomach one day while he was at the market. He was purchasing food for our family. It was just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A brief time later, he passed away. 2 or 3 months after my father’s passing, one of my brothers joined a demonstration for justice. He was shot and killed during the demonstration. I have no memory of my mother crying or grieving. Family members stepped in to help my mother raise us. When my brothers were old enough to find work, they would contribute to the care of the family. Seeing blood and death is normal in our world. It should not be."
"As a young man, I became a police officer, and I did this for several years. I was offered the opportunity to go to college in the US or Canada on a full scholarship when I was 25 years old. I took advantage of that opportunity and chose the United States. Living in the US has allowed me to live a more peaceful and enjoyable life. I am married with two children and enjoying my retirement years. It is my wish that my children will never experience what I did and will always remain innocent of war. War is a dark place, and nothing good comes from it."
"Cannabis? Back home, we did not call it that. It was common and easily accessible where I grew up. When I was a teenager, my friends and I would smoke cannabis or hashish together all the time. The bud, the leaves, whatever was smokeable. Cannabis has had its place in my life. Despite my age, I still enjoy smoking cannabis or hash today. I do have to say that the potency is much stronger than it was back then. My wife is still trying to convince me of the medical benefits, I just know that I feel relaxed, my mind is quieter, and life is just a little easier for a little while. ”
During coffee with a pharmacist, I asked her where the medical community has failed our veterans and others. She replied with the following,
“There is a neurological condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Medication can be used to treat the brain, and the results are good. By not providing the mental health component, we fail. There is no point in a patient taking the medication if the patient's mental health and wellbeing are not addressed at the same time. You must heal the whole body”
I could not agree more with my pharmacist friend. People who are suffering from trauma, stress, anxiety, and other medical conditions can often benefit from mental health support.
Cannabis can be used as a potential therapeutic modality. It is no secret that veterans and others who suffer from mental health issues have used cannabis to alleviate pain and emotional pain, and they would never give it up. They are now turning to the possible benefits of psilocybin and psychedelics in addition to cannabis. These additional treatment modalities have shown success in people suffering from PTSD and mental health issues. Scientists across the globe are seeing the benefits of cannabis research on the brain receptors, while European doctors are studying the causes and effects of children living in high-stress conditions such as those experienced today in Ukraine. This group of doctors is currently researching the potential use of cannabis to help decrease stressors in children. It is always important to note that Cannabis does not work for everyone and is not for everyone. If you a struggling and need to speak with someone, please do not hesitate. At the time of authoring this article, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line is now national.
