Interesting this. Supposedly well-developed countries with high standards of living not ranking very well. No western countries ranked higher than Philippines, which says something about the Filipinos' attitude to life. Have not read the full report - ranking table is on p13. https://sapienlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4th-Annual-Mental-State-of-the-World-Report.pdf
Interesting yes, but: In the Philippines this survey presumably reached only a portion of those sufficiently proficient in English. These represent more than likely a more affluent (=successful) portion of the population, so less troubled. As an aside, I don't really trust the outcomes for any of the included countries. Because of the applied method in data gathering it only reaches those willing and able to self-report, and I find it hard to believe that you can still make a representative report when your method excludes many if not all drug addicts, criminals, etc.
This report does address certain factors but very little solution. Seems more like a prognosis (a forecast of the likely course of a disease or ailment) Ailment being mental illness. The Reference's by them self are laughable. The World Heath organization, United Nations , to the educated Man need I say more about that. This seems more like an investors speculative forecast. Reading it shows only that stock in UK and American Pharmaceutical corporations are well on their way of blowing out the roof. From addiction to dementia to schizophrenia, almost 1 billion people worldwide suffer from a mental disorder. Lost productivity as a result of two of the most common mental disorders, anxiety and depression, costs the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year. Not to mention all the costs associated not included and by the most part remain very well hidden. Their report includes the study of 71 Countries (last years study) and now includes 64 for this year and at the same time saying "We are continuing to expand our Global foot print" There are 195 recognised countries! Make of it what you will!
One doesn't have to be a Brain Box to see that all that's happening around the world will only increase mental illness. The causes are quite clear, from poverty, famine, earthquakes, climate change, pollution and wars, have all contributed to our un-wellbeing. Not mention Power and Greed that control economies'
A lot of the mental health issues go unreported/undiagnosed here, take a walk around Dumaguete any day and you will see many that should be strait jacketed to a rubber room.
I know people who know people and have seen that they have been given the wrong treatments (e.g. drugs for schizophrenia when they have anxiety) - perhaps there is more profit in that.
An interesting report. The Philippines rated quite well. Mostly it was their resilience and motivation that brought them up in the rankings. I've chatted with family back in Canada after one of the many disasters here. They were impressed with the resilience of the locals. It's not too difficult to understand. If you wait for someone to help you you're going to wait and wait. Motivation is obvious. People are willing to try anything to improve their lives. When the guys finished building my house I said "okay next week is lawn and garden", they said we don't know anything about gardening. No problem I just showed them what to do and boom it got done. Next was build a swimming pool. The forman said "we don't do pools", neither did I. The foreman and I sat down for a day and figured out what we had to do. Now they have pools and landscaping on their resume. Something about people here is most don't sit around and p*ss and moan about problems. There's little point, they tend to get on with life.
......... Indeed who would listen if they did? Yes I agree that the word "Survival" wherever you live, can be a good enough reason for motivation, education also brings it's rewards, but not everybody on this planet has the same opportunities or indeed the same ability to pick them themselves up and start all over again. Mental illness can affect anybody at anytime, there are trigger points in all walks of life, for example, how often do we hear of someone, never thought of as being desperate or depressed taking their own life? View attachment upload_2024-3-13_15-32-56.png The circumstances yet to be revealed That's also true, especially in the western world.