The State of Mental Health in Russia and the Impact of Government Policies

What are the Current Issues Facing Mental Health in Russia?

Mental health in Russia is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. The country is facing a mental health crisis, with increasing rates of depression and other mental illnesses luckily they have advance mental health treatment facilities. According to recent statistics, the number of people suffering from depression in Russia has increased by almost 70% over the past decade. This means that more than one million people are living with depression in Russia today. Additionally, suicide rates have also been increasing steadily and are now higher than ever before. These figures demonstrate the urgency of addressing this issue and finding solutions to improve mental health in Russia.

Exploring How Government Policies are Affecting Mental Health Care

Mental health services in Russia are facing a crisis due to government policies. The government has been cutting back on spending for psychiatric hospitals and other mental health care facilities, leading to a decrease in access to quality mental health care. This is having a detrimental effect on the mental health of Russian citizens, and it is important to explore how these policies are impacting mental health care in Russia. In this article, we will discuss the current state of mental health services in Russia and examine how government policies have affected the availability of mental health care. We will also look at potential solutions that could be implemented to improve access to quality mental health services in Russia.

What Are The Social Stigmas That Contribute To Poor Mental Health In Russia?

Mental health issues are a growing concern in Russia, as the country struggles with social stigmas that contribute to poor mental health. Despite recent efforts to raise awareness about mental illness, many people in Russia still lack understanding and acceptance of it. This lack of awareness can lead to discrimination and exclusion, which can have a significant impact on access to treatment and support for those suffering from mental health issues. In this article, we will explore the social stigmas that contribute to poor mental health in Russia and how they can be addressed.

How Can We Improve Access To Treatment For Those With Mental Health Issues In Russia?

Mental health issues are a serious problem in Russia and access to treatment is often inadequate. In order to improve access to treatment for those with mental health issues, it is important to understand the current situation and identify the barriers that prevent people from seeking help. This includes examining the availability of mental health services, identifying gaps in service provision, understanding the stigma associated with mental illness and exploring ways of improving access for those who need it. By addressing these issues, we can create a more supportive environment for those living with mental illness in Russia and ensure they receive adequate care.

Types of Treatments for Mental Health

Mental issues treatment can happen in different settings and usually involves a multidisciplinary team of providers like psychiatrists, nurses, counselors, psychologists, peer support experts and mental health aides. 

There’s no one size fits all practices to the treatment of mental health. Treatment must be instead be customized to the patient. Mental health issues can differ broadly from one person to another, even among those with similar diagnoses. 

Psychiatric Hospitalization

This treatment happens if the patient is admitted to the following:

  • State psychiatric hospital
  • Private psychiatric hospital
  • Medical hospitals with psychiatric floor

This treatment usually includes stabilization, administration of nutrition and fluids, close monitoring, medication, and other required emergency care.

Patients might be involuntarily or voluntarily hospitalized. A patient might be involuntarily hospitalized if he is gravely disabled or in danger to himself or others. A person candidate for this kind of treatment if he or she has:

  • Delusions or hallucinations
  • Serious mental health symptoms
  • Homicidal or suicidal ideation
  • Not eaten or slept for a couple of days
  • Lots the capability to take care of himself because of mental health symptoms.

Residential or Inpatient Mental Health Treatment

This treatment happens in a residential center or facility on a regular basis. This kind of care is ideal for those who need regular or constant medical supervision and those with serious, long-term signs who haven’t shown considerable development after outpatient mental health intervention.

Outpatient Mental Health Treatment

This type of mental health treatment doesn’t need patients to stay at the treatment facility. Rather, participants go to the facility or therapist’s office on a scheduled date.

This kind of treatment is ideal for people with:

  • Solid support system
  • Mild to moderate signs
  • The capability to work outside of the treatment facility

Many different forms of mental health treatment choices are provided on an outpatient basis, such as:

  • Individual therapy
  • Support groups
  • Intensive outpatient care
  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Psychiatric medications as well as outpatient medical management
  • Partial hospitalization

There are many facilities for this type of treatment. Outpatient treatments for mental health and addictions can be found at facilities such as Transcend Recovery Community which also offers sober living assistance throughout your treatment. You can find other similar treatment facilities as well and more information from their blog.

Dual Diagnosis Mental Health Treatment

This provides complete mental health services for people struggling with a mental health conditions and addiction to substances. This type of treatment treats and addresses both conditions simultaneously.

Psychotherapy

This has efficiently treated an extensive array of mental health issues and is provided in inpatient and outpatient settings. During the treatment, a group or a person talks about the problem with a therapist who is able to assists in processing the emotions and learn new coping skills. 

Medication

This is used to cure the signs of mental problems. These are often utilized along with psychotherapy and are provided in outpatient and inpatient health settings. 

Some of the most effective medications administered for mental health are as follows: 

  • Antidepressants: This treats the signs of depression; however, this is also given for insomnia or anxiety in most cases. 
  • Anti-Anxiety Drugs: This can assist people experiencing generalized anxiety, panic attacks and social anxiety. 
  • Mood Stabilizers: This is prescribed for those with bipolar disorder and associated mood disorders to stabilize mood as well as avoid mood swings, depression and mania. 
  • Antipsychotics: This is usually given to cure schizophrenia and those with bipolar disorder as well

Is Addiction a Mental Illness?

At this point, addiction is broadly accepted by scientific organizations as a form of medical issue.  The IDA or National Institute on Drug Abuse and the APA or American Psychiatric Association both describe addiction as a mental illness. The DSM-V lists criteria for categorizing addiction as a mental health issue known as Substance Use Disorder.  

On the other hand, it was not always this way. In America, there is a lengthy background of libeling alcohol and drugs and those who utilize them. Decades ago, addiction or substance abuse was not seen as a mental issue outside of an individual’s control but instead a moral failing rooted in an individual’s personality.

Late 1930’s when scientists first started to research addition, the current view was that drug addicts were just those too weak in determination to decline. As addiction was not considered an illness or disease, there was no idea of curing it with rehab centers and 12 step programs. Instead, heavy users were seen as degenerates and criminals and were fixed accordingly. They were detained so as not to be a bother to the public.

The surge of scientific opinion started to changes as developments in technology and research shown that constant use of alcohol and drug really resulted in physical changes in the brain, which inhibit self-control as well as continue intense cravings for the substance. This finding shattered the idea of constant drug use as an option and dishonored that drug addicts can simply stop using the substance anytime they wished to.

How Drug and Alcohol Addictions Changes the Brain

The important argument for why substance addiction shouldn’t be regarded as a disease centers on the role of choice. For instance, some people argue that you cannot decide to stop having health issues, but you can decide to stop taking alcohol or drug once you exert the determination to do so. This disagreement has been used to other mental problems, too; for instance, some argue that those experiencing anxiety must stop being sad. In both scenarios, it is now recognized that these diseases map to alter the structure of the brain and work that enable the disease.

Substances work by encouraging the brain’s reward circuitry. Usually, this plays a vital job in learning- it exists to make sure you know how to repeat activities that are life-sustaining such as sleeping and eating. To carry this out, it generates dopamine, a kind of chemical which causes a sense of pleasure into the brain each time do carry out an activity that is evolutionarily advantageous to survival. Thus, a connection is made between that sense of pleasure and activity so that you are motivated to carry out the activity once more.

Drugs and alcohol exploit a similar learning trail; however, they kick it into overdrive. If you consume a drug, it generates 2 to 10 times the level of dopamine as opposed to natural processes- which leads to an extreme sense of euphoria, which extremely motivates a person to carry out once more. However, as you keep on using the drug, the brain adapts to this large surge of dopamine by desensitizing itself to it.

When helping people suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, you need to stop blaming them for doing bad actions and dismissing them as weak or bad. You must know the hard web of environmental and social factors that can result in drug and alcohol abuse and know that these conditions are rooted in brain changes that impact self-control, decision-making, and judgment. 

How Covid-19 is Affecting Mental Health?

In the early days of April, 45 percent of people were asked by the Kaiser Family Foundation and said that worry and stress about the COVID-19 negatively impacted their mental well-being. 1 in 5 said the coronavirus had taken a big toll on their mental health.  With over 20 years dedicated to treating kids and adults with brain tumors, Kevin Murphy, MD, knows the effect of this pandemic on our brain.

So, how does this pandemic impact our mental well-being? Stress is a natural as well as anticipated response to health issues; however, stress drastically boosts if the crisis is supreme in your lifetime and all and sundry is vulnerable. Although the source of pressure is obvious as it’s the pandemic defining what is behind our emotions assists people gain a thorough understanding of the problems. Then it is simpler to be tender with yourself and others if you are on the edge of emotional tolerance.

How the Pandemic Affects Mental Wellbeing

It doesn’t matter if you stress about yourself, coworkers, friends or family; there is no getting away from the threat of becoming inflicted with this virus. Ongoing fright is a sign of depression that negatively affects appetite, leading to sleep issues and considerably affecting the person’s ability to deal with daily life.  

Also, fear results in other sources of pressure as it fuels behavior such as hoarding groceries. If you think you have to hoard, surely you will encounter the frustration of not looking for the vital items you want at the grocery store.

Staying at your home must ease some of the fears of being inflicted by a virus; however, staying at home has its fallout. Social distancing divides you from the companionship and support of family members, and friends are very depressing and hard. Although you are at home with loved ones, the reality of isolation can trigger sadness, loneliness, and anxiety. Also, you may find that spending your time with loved ones all day and every day is stressful as well as makes challenges, regardless of how much you adore them.

If you are one of the many people out there who are not able to work, you are stressed about your resources or finances. Although you have money to depend on, the doubt of when you will get back to your work or if the job will be available are devastating stressors that add to mental health issues.

A lot of people out there have experienced or will experience deep grief due to the instant death of loved ones and friends. On the other hand, sorrow and heartache are a reaction to lose, meaning the pandemic might also cause sorrow over the loss of well-being as well as job.

There are simple and easy ways to lessen the effect of COVID-19 to our mental well-being, such as limiting the time of watching the news, keeping moving and doing your daily activities, keeping healthy and don’t afraid to seek help and assistance from the experts.