Article/Link: "National Survey Reveals 45.1 Million Adults in the U.S. Experienced Mental Illness in the Past Year" by SAMHSA
Published: Nov. 18, 2010 ; Accessed: Oct. 18, 2011
Summary: A national survey in 2009 revealed an alarming number of new statistics about mental health. In total, 45.1 million adults experienced mental illnesses in the past year and 11 million of the diseases were serious (strongly interfered with life activities). The study also revealed that most of these people had substance use disorders and were thinking of suicide at one point. Many of these people are not getting the help they need as less than 4 in 10 people with mental illnesses used resources available to them. Adults with serious mental illnesses were most likely to use the resources, with 60 percent using them, but that still left 4.4 million untreated. There is also a large difference between women and men (23.8 percent and 15.6 percent respectively) and between the employed and unemployed (17.1 percent and 27.7 percent respectively). Young adults had a high percentage compared to the elderly (30 percent compared to 13.7 percent)
Response: Because one fifth of all American adults have a mental disease (and one quarter of these are serious), it is not too surprising that the Chief has one. What is surprising is that he doesn't fit into any of the other statistics. The Chief is male and fairly old, which both have low percentages compared to their opposite, and he was born into a fairly well-off family at the beginning, being the son of the Chief of the tribe. As well, he served years in the army, which means that he wasn't totally unemployed. This helps the case that the Chief's mental illness wasn't serious at all and proves the fact that it was fairly easy to cure (he became more and more sentient as the novel progressed). However, the fact is that he does have a mental illness, and no matter how small the percentage, it is still possible to be one of the few
Vocabulary
Word 1: Illicit
a) "The survey also reveals that in many cases those experiencing mental illness, especially those with serious mental illness, also have a substance use disorder (abuse or dependence on alcohol or an illicit drug"
b) Not permitted, from the Latin illicitus, from in- + licitus (lawful). First known use: 1506
c) The students were put on probation for their use of illicit substances
Word 2: Discord
a) "If left untreated mental illnesses can result in disability, substance abuse, suicides, lost productivity, and family discord"
b) Lack of agreement or harmony (as between persons, things, or ideas). Also active quarrelling or conflict. Middle English descorde, discord, from Anglo-Frenchdescorde, from Latin discordia, from discord-, discors. First Known Use: 13th century.
c) There was discord among the students as they struggled to pick the best people to represent them.
Word 3: Scope
a) "The survey provides other insights into the nature and scope of mental illness, including information on those segments of the population who may be at greater risk of experiencing mental illness."
b) Extent of treatment, activity, or influence. Italian scopo purpose, goal, from Greek skopos; akin to Greek skeptesthai to watch, look at. First Known Use: circa 1555
c) The teachers tried to comprehend the scope of effect that the activity would have on their school's reputation.
Published: Nov. 18, 2010 ; Accessed: Oct. 18, 2011
Summary: A national survey in 2009 revealed an alarming number of new statistics about mental health. In total, 45.1 million adults experienced mental illnesses in the past year and 11 million of the diseases were serious (strongly interfered with life activities). The study also revealed that most of these people had substance use disorders and were thinking of suicide at one point. Many of these people are not getting the help they need as less than 4 in 10 people with mental illnesses used resources available to them. Adults with serious mental illnesses were most likely to use the resources, with 60 percent using them, but that still left 4.4 million untreated. There is also a large difference between women and men (23.8 percent and 15.6 percent respectively) and between the employed and unemployed (17.1 percent and 27.7 percent respectively). Young adults had a high percentage compared to the elderly (30 percent compared to 13.7 percent)
Response: Because one fifth of all American adults have a mental disease (and one quarter of these are serious), it is not too surprising that the Chief has one. What is surprising is that he doesn't fit into any of the other statistics. The Chief is male and fairly old, which both have low percentages compared to their opposite, and he was born into a fairly well-off family at the beginning, being the son of the Chief of the tribe. As well, he served years in the army, which means that he wasn't totally unemployed. This helps the case that the Chief's mental illness wasn't serious at all and proves the fact that it was fairly easy to cure (he became more and more sentient as the novel progressed). However, the fact is that he does have a mental illness, and no matter how small the percentage, it is still possible to be one of the few
Vocabulary
Word 1: Illicit
a) "The survey also reveals that in many cases those experiencing mental illness, especially those with serious mental illness, also have a substance use disorder (abuse or dependence on alcohol or an illicit drug"
b) Not permitted, from the Latin illicitus, from in- + licitus (lawful). First known use: 1506
c) The students were put on probation for their use of illicit substances
Word 2: Discord
a) "If left untreated mental illnesses can result in disability, substance abuse, suicides, lost productivity, and family discord"
b) Lack of agreement or harmony (as between persons, things, or ideas). Also active quarrelling or conflict. Middle English descorde, discord, from Anglo-Frenchdescorde, from Latin discordia, from discord-, discors. First Known Use: 13th century.
c) There was discord among the students as they struggled to pick the best people to represent them.
Word 3: Scope
a) "The survey provides other insights into the nature and scope of mental illness, including information on those segments of the population who may be at greater risk of experiencing mental illness."
b) Extent of treatment, activity, or influence. Italian scopo purpose, goal, from Greek skopos; akin to Greek skeptesthai to watch, look at. First Known Use: circa 1555
c) The teachers tried to comprehend the scope of effect that the activity would have on their school's reputation.
