Depression: an obstacle to learning LO11009

Roxanne S. Abbas (75263.3305@CompuServe.COM)
15 Nov 96 10:49:40 EST

Replying to LO10974 --

Thank you, David, for referring us to the Psychiatric Times article which
confirmed my observation that depression is a major and probably growing
problem in our society. I have also observed that there is very little
understanding or apparent interest in understanding the causes of
depression or in developing our knowledge of how to keep ourselves, our
families and our larger communities mentally healthy so we are less
susceptible to depression.

I serve on the board of a mental health center and the staff there is
adamantly opposed to broadening their scope to preventative measures.
Does the problem lie in our western medical model and insurance provisions
that focus on cure rather than prevention? HMO's have shifted this
paradigm for physical health but I haven't seen much from them in mental
health.

The perceived causes for an increased incidence of depression that I most
frequently hear are: 1) lack of job and economic security and 2)
isolation caused by increased technology. What role can the employer play
in keeping the workforce healthy? What can family and friends do for each
other? Can we wait for the medical and mental health professions to lead
us? Is there a role for government? Is there a role for the church?

-- 

Roxanne Abbas 75263.3305@compuserve.com

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>