Sweden tops our positive mental health index, and with good reason. The Nordic nation ranked high for the percentage of green space, as it plays host to lush coniferous forests that take up the majority of its land providing the perfect environment for relaxation and mental wellbeing.
While many countries still struggle with opening the discussion around mental health care, the United States was ranked third for burden of mental and behavioral disorders, adjusting for population size, by the World Health Organization.
New Jersey comes in as the number one best state to live in the US for your family's mental health in 2022. Data has shown that symptoms of mental illness among adults in New Jersey (16.14%) are lower than the national average in the US (21.1%)1.
In Japan, the loss of 'mental self-control' or mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety were seen as something over which a person is unable to exercise will power. Ingrained in Japanese culture, those who are unable to practice will power are taught to feel a sense of shame as a result.
Not only did we rank 32 out of 38 overall, but when it comes to the mental health of our children, we're doing even worse – 35 out of 38 countries.
On several occasions, McLean has been named the best mental hospital in the world by US News and World Report. McLean has dedicated research and a teaching facility at Harvard Medical School. McLean is accredited by JCI, which showcases its reliability.
Even though it is widely assumed that the best doctors in the world are in the United States, there are plenty of other countries that have great doctors as well. For example, Japan and South Korea are known for having strong medical systems.
A long hallway in the 181,582-square-foot Powell Building provides a reminder of the vast number of patients once housed at Central State—up to 13,000 during its peak. Many more patients followed Mr. B., and the institution grew into the largest insane asylum in the world.
Located in Brentwood, New York, Pilgrim State Hospital was the largest psychiatric hospital—and hospital of any kind—in the history of the world. At the peak of psychiatric institutionalization in 1954, it housed 13,875 patients (New York State Office of Mental Health, 2012).
Dr Sachin Nagendrappa, assistant professor of psychiatry, St Johns Medical College, was awarded the Global Schizophrenia award 2022.
Stigmatising attitudes towards people with mental illness are prevalent in Australia [1]. While there have been some improvements in community understanding of common mental illnesses (particularly depression and anxiety), there is still widespread misunderstanding and ignorance [2, 3].
In the longitudinal study, COVID-19 Impact Monitoring Survey Program, researchers from the Australian National University found a substantial increase in the levels of psychological distress between February 2017 and April 2020, the equivalent of an increase of 8% to 11% of people reporting a serious mental illness.
Anxiety disorders (such as Social Phobia) are the most common type of disorder, affecting 1 in 6 (17%, or 3.3 million) Australians, followed by Affective disorders (such as Depressive Episode) (8%), and Substance Use disorders (such as Alcohol Dependence) (3.
Societal perceptions of mental illness
It is also said by Korean doctors that Confucian culture emphasizes individual will and self-discipline which creates a social prejudice against mental health. Traditional Confucian ideals state that mental illnesses/disorders are meant to be tolerated, not treated.
A more likely reason is Japan's medical tradition, in which depression has been regarded as primarily physical rather than a combination of physical and psychological. Depression in Japan was hardly diagnosed, and treatments for symptoms of depression in Japan were often to use rest or exercise.
Mental health has long been neglected in China, partly because of a deep-rooted cultural stigma. Discussing mental health remains taboo among many communities. Confucianism emphasises the achievement of personal and social harmony. People with mental disorders are often perceived as unable to fulfil this ideal.