The Lucknow Sentinel, 1997-09-10, Page 12Page 12 — Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, September 10, 1997
For Kids Only
PARADE PUZZLE
How many legs were walking down
the street? 42
a
LUCKNOW LEGION
BRANCH #309
Veteran's
Dinner'
Monday, September 22/97
Deadline ,for. Reservation Sept. 12'
For reservations call:
52.9-7633 or 528-2745
One in 10 affected by anxiety problems
Anxiety Disorders are
now the number one
Mental. Health Problem in
North. America as indicat-
ed in a recent survey done
by. the National Institute of
Mental Health, surpassing
both drug and alcohol
abuse. `
One in `10 'Canadians
will be affected by some
debilitating anxiety• prob-
lem in their. lifetime and
that pe
se. conrcentage .tinues:
Did you' know panic,
disorder, affects nearly
one trillion Canadians?
Research has shown that
only. 20 per ;cent of these
• individuals. are properly
diagnosed, : while 800,000.
Canadians. remain. unrec-
ognized or misdiagnosed.
These individuals
who suffer from this con-
dition, experience debili-
tating symptoms without
being aware, it is the
cause, and therefore do
not receive appropriate,
effective treatment.
Stress related mental
illnesses, including anxi-
ety and depression, are
very common in our soci-
ety today, The symptosis
that identify them, howev-
er, are often ngsdiagnosed
or ignored altogether.
Education.. and treatment
of mental health problems
is imperative for both
health professionals ' -
especially front-line pro-
fessionals (family physi-
cians and hospital emer-
gency, room staff) and
patients. alike. Such educa-
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s... ter.
tion is the only way to
build an environment that
is free from ignobance and
stigma.
Patients often show up
at hospital emergency
rooms or family doctor's
offices suffering from
heart palpitations, dizzi-
ness, 'shortness of breath
and other symptoms,
unaware they are suffering
from an anxiety disorder.
Often times,' these people
undergo hundreds or thou-
sands of dollars in tests,
only to be told that there's
nothing wrong with thein. ,
Stigma is the number
one problem for people
with mental health prob-
lems. It can' and often does
prevent early recognition
of anxiety disorders, pre-
venting an individual from
getting the help they
require. Fifty per cent of
Canadians felt stigma was
the main barrier,• S.tigtna
exists largely because of
.the myths surrounding.
mental 'illnesses. ;The.
media, advertising .and
entertainment industry has
helped fuel these myths
and misconceptions with
sensationalized negative
Portrayals. and stories of
people with mental health
problems;• portraying them
as "psychos,"crazy,"..
"nuts," "weirdos, and
very often presented .as
dangerous, unpredictable.
and a threat to society.
These :negative words
and portrayals are just a
few examples of what
helps .fuel and perpetuate
thestigma of mental ill-
ness,'and keepit, alive.
These horrendous portray-
als often are .responsible •
for belittlingand offend
ing people -with mental
health problems,. -They are
used withoutthe intention.
of harm Or malice. But,
. why then aim they continu
ally used? •
We would not mock,•
someone for having,,a
physical illness like . can-
cer, heart disease, etc..But,
sensationalize .the ad,
story, book or movie and it
captures the audiences
attention.
Stigma can take many
forms and is often experi-
enced as discrimination
whether it is verbal or
emotional abuse. The
effects are long lasting and
can lower self esteem`;
causing isolation and lone-
liness which often leads to
further problems.
People often fear what
they do no know or.
understand, and have a
tendency to discriminate
against it. Although anxi-
ety disorders are recog-
nized as the number one
health" problem, ignorance
and lack of education still
'are prevalent in our soci
ety. Yet in spite of the fact
that the majority of people
know someone that .has
been or is suffering with
anxiety disorder, few peo-
ple really understand. or
know• much about it.
Yes, it is human nature
` to . fear . what we don't. _.
understand; As such, men-
tal
en-
tal illnesses•, are feared by
many people and, unfortu-
nately, still carrya strong
stigma (a stigma is defined
as a mark or sign of dis-
grace). Q
It is due to this over.,
powering stigma that
many people hesitate to
get help for their problems
,for. fear of being 'looked.
down upon, It is unfortu-
naterand sad when this,
:,happens because effective
;treatment does. exist. What
is worse, is that the'stignha .
experienced by people
with mental- health prob
lems can be more destruc-
tive: than the illness itself: ,.
There is no need to suffer
in silence. With profes-
sional treatment recovery..
is.: possible, the success
rate is very high (90 .per
cent).
Y1�11C1
Kelly. McBride, daughter. of George McBride,.
RR5 Lucknow and her friend Dan Kennedy,
Toronto, have embarkedon a bicycle trip to
ancouver, B.C. They, left Kinloss Township on
ug. 23 and are expected on the west coast on
ct., 6, approximately six Weeks. The cyclists
re staying in provincial parks along the way.
fter reaching the west coast,: they, are leaving
for Australia where they will live and tour for a
r$
ATOMPAM:4,2.ga.aM ra c ,uss mvrrrccs� /
•
Kelly. McBride, daughter. of George McBride,.
RR5 Lucknow and her friend Dan Kennedy,
Toronto, have embarkedon a bicycle trip to
ancouver, B.C. They, left Kinloss Township on
ug. 23 and are expected on the west coast on
ct., 6, approximately six Weeks. The cyclists
re staying in provincial parks along the way.
fter reaching the west coast,: they, are leaving
for Australia where they will live and tour for a
r$
ATOMPAM:4,2.ga.aM ra c ,uss mvrrrccs� /
•