Introduction
The occurrence of mental disorders is now more than it has ever been due to the fast pace of life, increase in stress levels, and decrease in peaceful, solitary mindfulness. This is matched with the increase in awareness of mental health. Scientific, biologic, and alternative medical advancements are being made every day in order to restore mental health. The concept of holistic health takes into consideration all aspects of an individual's needs. These needs include physical, social and psychological balance. If there is an imbalance of any one of these, then a person is not healthy, but diseases. And so, mental health is given its due importance with centres like mental health institute of the nation. More than one in three people have at least one mental disorder at at least one point in their lives. For this reason, National Institute of Mental Health, the largest mental illness research organization in the world, was authorized and formally established in 1949 with the purpose of improving mental health.
History
The headquarters of NIMH are located ay Bethesda, Maryland, US. and its parent agency is the National Institutes of Health. Ever since creation of the National Institute of Mental health on April 14 1949, researchers at the mental health institute of the nation have conducted studies and experiments, many of which have greatly helped understanding the basics of mental illnesses and therefore laid the foundation for prevention and cure of mental diseases. Identification and isolation of enzymes involved in nerve transmission has enabled manufacture of antidepressants. This work was done by Julius Axelrod, a researcher at the National Institute of Mental health. Axelrod was awarded the Nobel prize in 1970. Mortimer Mishkin has given the world invaluable knowledge about the pathways for touch, hearing and vision, and how these are links with our memory. He was a scientist in this mental health institute of the nation and in 2010 he was awarded the National Medal of Science.
Features
The researchers at the mental health institute of the nation work with the aim of gaining an understanding of disorders that affect the mind in order to treat, cure and prevent them. This is achieved through basic and clinical research. This vital public health mission has as its goals the discovery of the ever-evolving human brain and its behaviour and experience. Innovation and novel perspectives in the field of science bring about outstanding breakthroughs. Development of new and better intervention is proving to be of value and this provides effect combat against mental illnesses like anxiety and mood disorders, depression, bipolar and manic-depressive disorders and many other syndromes. Interventions include treatment with medication, psychotherapy, counselling and formation of self-help group.
Tips and comments
The mental health institute of the nation has also highlighted the signs and symptoms that are characteristic of specific illnesses, especially the most common ones. These include anxiety disorders like OCD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, borderline personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and schizophrenia. Suicide prevention is another important area that NIMH has worked on. This has made possible a better mental state and a healthier, happier lifestyle and the work done by mental health institute of the nation is salutatory!
