heyysarasaurs’s weblog

A survey taken in 2001 and 2002, and released Monday, interviewed young Americans and discovered that one in five 19- 25 year old students and non students have a personality disorder, yet fewer then twenty-five percent receive treatment. The survey identified young adults with disorders such as: Obsessive-compulsive disorder, problem drinkers, drugs abusers, various phobias, depression, and Bipolar disorder. Doctor Mark Olfson of Columbia University and study co-author described this widespread lack of diagnoses was rather worrisome and should call to attention not only to “students and parents, but also deans and people who run college mental health services about the need to extend access to treatment.”  The study authors also brought up that the recent fatal shootings at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech have raised awareness to the frequency of mental illness on college campuses. The authors of the study also said “For many, young adulthood is characterized by the pursuit of greater educational opportunities and employment prospects, development of personal relationships, and for some, parenthood,” Under these circumstances can stress and which would then trigger psychiatric problems.

                        Doctor Sharon Hirsh, who is a psychiatrist at Chicago University and not apart of the study, praised the study for bringing awareness to those who do not get the medical attention they should. She then compared the lack of personality disorder diagnoses to an imaginative lack in diabetic treatment on college campuses. Another psychiatric professor, Doctor Jerald Jay, at Wright State University who also was not involved in the study questioned if some conditions were over diagnosed because the popularity of personality disorders were higher then he would have expected. Kay continued to explain that a hint of “obsession” in their personality, but that is what helps them to work hard and achieve goals. But this differs from an “obsessional” disorder which makes people inflexible, controlling and ultimately interferes with their work.

                                                            Commentary

                        In this day and age everyone has an excuse for their every action and motive, and through the advancements in the medical field I feel as though more people will seek for answers, hoping to receive diagnoses of a disorder or illness. However, this really seems to be the intentions of a hypochondriac. The other day on the Daily Show Jon Stewart’s guest Denis Leary had recently written a book where in one chapter he discussed how disgusted he was with the amount of parents that seek answers for their children just because they behave unkindly.

                        Now I do agree that some people may be overreacting but on the other hand increasing mental diagnoses on college campus could lessen the chances of more school shootings. I even think some kind of mental health service should be provided in high school because most guidance counselors are of not much help.

This is really my current event for english, but I found it very interesting.