The happiest country in the world
An investigation of mental health in America and other countries
ELIZABETH CONNER – As many know, mental health is an issue that floods media, policy and consumer culture daily in the United States. A divisive issue, mental health policy is becoming more and more necessary as the issue continues growing at home. America’s fast-paced, competitive environment leaves no room for mental health initiatives to take root, and many question how the problem will be solved. Specifically, the pandemic in America has increased the feelings of depression among adults to the highest rates yet with no sight of the rate minimizing any time soon (1). Thus, how does Finland, the happiest country in the world, exist at such a level of ease and how might the United States change policy in order to improve the well- being of its citizens?
Today, 40% of Americans with mental health issues stemming over 12 months of time remain untreated. This rate rises, even, to nearly 75% when the percentages of those specifically in the low income category are examined. One of the main factors of this phenomenon is simply the health care system (2). When it comes to insurance, 11.1% of Americans with mental issues are uninsured and thus unable to be provided with the care they deserve (1). Not to mention, the correlation between mental illness and chronic illness is glaring, which furthers the fact that those uninsured seek prescription drugs and cannot be provided with such access (4). In the 2021 report on Mental Health in America, the evidence that a pandemic has raised the prevalence of mental health is clear. The feelings of isolation and hopelessness in the face of a largely unknown future surged as the word “quranatine” and “COVID” became a part of everyday vocabulary. At the greatest risk are the youth, specifically multiracial youth, which saw the greatest risk of severe depression in the year of 2021 (1). Thus, a young generation aware and affected by mental health is then expected to continue to fight for mental health equality and treatment in an environment unsuitable to provide such care.
Although many focus on the mental health of their own country, the topic is a global issue as different countries provide different environments for mental health to either thrive or be detrimental. China, another competitive environment, is ranked second in terms of mental health burdening the population as 17.5% of adults seek mental care (3). For environmentally diverse countries like Brazil, only 5 psychiatrists exist in areas of the Northeast part of Brazil per 100,000 inhabitants, and this number drops to 1 in 100,000 as you move toward southeastern parts of the country (3). India as well has a large stigma around mental health. Many parents and family members deny the prevalence of such diseases, so an ignorance towards the subject of mental health remains and only 10% of the affected population seeks and is aware of care (3).
So, how does this compare to the happiest country in the world one might ask. Finland, as a whole, is better equipped to handle mental health as it exists in a much less corrupt state. Anxiety and depression in Finland affect a staggering low 4% to 6% of residents, and the Finnish Universal Health Care system is largely equipped to tackle this issue with its National Mental Health strategy which launched in 2020 (5). Such a strategy seeks to bolster the mental health of youth, launch sucicide prevention programs, and develop more services to treat mental disorders. As a country, Finland is committed to a sense of equality. The gender gap is small if at all present, women are allowed a significant time off after childbirth so they may be present in the childs’ formative years, and citizens are offered extensive welfare benefits (5). Therefore, a generally happy and secure environment provides better opportunities for positive mental health.
Luckily, the issue of how to provide mental health resources and solve the crisis is constantly being investigated. Similar to how Finland launched a National Mental Health Strategy, Australia took a similar approach in 1992 switching treatment to community-based care rather than institutionalized treatment (3). This change, along with their universal health care and hands on policy, allows for the percentage of in-patient care to be nearly zero. China, even, hoped to employ 40,000 more psychiatrists by 2020 to begin to break the stigma of mental health (3). As for the United States, the media has had a large impact on the change in narrative of mental health. Songs about the national suicide hotline, celebrity support, and a determined millennial population provide a glimpse of hope for the future of mental health (3). What is next is unknown; however, using our voices to advocate for resources, sharing stories to help break the stigma, and voting in leaders who believe in change are all avenues that can help direct America towards becoming the happiest country in the world.
References:
- “2021 State of Mental Health in America.” Mental Health America,
https://mhanational.org/research-reports/2021-state-mental-health-america.
- Alison M. Darcy, PhD, and MD Timothy Mariano. “Mental Health in America: A Growing Crisis.” Psychiatric Times, Psychiatric Times, 5 Aug. 2021,
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/mental-health-america-crisis.
- Lobo, Ariana. “Mental Health around the World, Mental Illness in Other Countries.” Synergy Health Programs, 31 Mar. 2020,
https://synergyhealthprograms.com/a-look-at-mental-health-around-the-word/.
- Williams, Reginald D.., and Arnav Shah. “Mental Health Care Needs in the U.S. and 10 Other High-Income Countries.” Mental Health Care Needs in US and 10 Other High-Income Countries | Commonwealth Fund, 8 Oct. 2021
- Väänänen, Heikki. “What Makes Finland the Happiest Country in the World?” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 10 Dec. 2021,
Copy Editor: Akshay Nair
Photography Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/travel-news/finland-ranked-happiest-country-in-the-world-for-fourth-year-in-a-row/as81670880.cms