The high rate of suicide in Kimberley, South Africa

This is a follow- up from Deb’s article last week. Although suicide rates are a large concern in many urban communities, lesser developed communities often have much higher suicide rates. 

This clip shows the city of Kimberley, capital of the Northern Cape in South Africa. It’s a city with high unemployment and little opportunities for its people. This is a city which is all too common in most parts of Africa. Youth are caught up in crime, violence, and drug abuse, and have noone to turn to for help. 

Suicide is on the rise in South Africa. Suicide accounts for 17% of deaths in Kimberley, more than twice the national average. 

PS: The sound quality isn't the greatest in this clip, but it gets better in some parts if you just wait a bit. 

Stigma of Mental Health

"That failure has already and will continue to come at a tremendous cost to doctors and patients. 'I still believe that the people who are the most vulnerable are often the most empathic,' Dr. Dyrbye said. 'They are the ones who get most attached and put the needs of the patient first.'

Dr. Dyrbye continued, 'Until we know what really helps them and what works best, our learning environment will continue to eat away at our students’ empathy and altruism.'”

I think part of making ourselves aware of mental health issues is dealing with the stigmata of mental illness. Cultures and subpopulations deal with this in different ways (a topic I would like to explore in future posts), but I found this article about risk of doctor suicide very alarming (click on the title of this post); if the medical educational system can't even grapple with the stigmata of mental illness, what hope does that leave for our patients? I don't mean to undermine doctors, especially those with known mental illness. Rather, I believe our society needs a paradigm shift to make everyone able to recognize signs of distress, and for society to make people, especially those who provide health care, not feel less adequate for seeking help. Interestingly, this article spoke specifically about U.S. doctors and medical students which also leaves question about international medical students. Should med students be required to have weekly counseling sessions? Thoughts?

Bob Larson- The Exorcist Exposed

Watch Reverend Bob Larson speak about exorcism. He says that the most common cause of demonic possession is sexual abuse (accounting for 50% of demonic possession). He even performs many of his exorcisms publicly. 

The second half of the clip shows Fox interrogating him about his finances since many people claim he has cheated people for money. 

Exorcism in India

After trying doctors, as a last resort, people with debilitating ailments often consult the exorcist. In this clip, you get to see the case of a 15 year old girl, Munee, who seeks the help of the exorcist after battling with depression and strange behavior for 8 months. The exorcist puts her into a trance and communicates with the spirit possessing her. 

Afflictions: Culture & Mental Illness in Indonesia (Trailer)

Here's another clip which depicts mental illness in Indonesia. This film is one of the first films on mental illness in the developing world.

From the youtube commentary:

Based on footage shot over 12 years in Bali and Java (Indonesia). The film explores the relationship between culture, mental illness, and personal experience. The role of traditional medicine vs. psychiatric treatment, family support, community rejection or acceptance, and beliefs about its causes are explored in three case studies. 

Indian Girl with Pica

This is a video of an Indian girl, Pakeeza, who has Pica. It's an eating disorder where the person has an appetite for non-nutritive substances like coal, soil, paper, etc.

Fortunately, Pakeeza has not shown any health problems, even though she eats pebbles and bricks.

Little research has been done on the causes of pica. However, recently cases of pica have been linked to obsessive- compulsive disorder.  

Howard Dully's Journey: 'My Lobotomy'

Howard Dully's Journey: 'My Lobotomy'

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/bonus-video/lobotomist-howard-dully/

Following up from last week, this is an interview with Howard Dully, one of the youngest recipients of the ice- pick lobotomy. He was 12 years old at the time. Now, he is a 61 year old bus driver who went on a quest to find out details of what happened to him. He gives details in his critically well- received memoir "My Lobotomy".

In an interview, Howard Dully says: "I'll never know what I lost in those 10 minutes with Dr. Freeman and his ice pick. By some miracle it didn't turn me into a zombie, crush my spirit or kill me. But it did affect me. Deeply. Walter Freeman's operation was supposed to relieve suffering. In my case it did just the opposite..."

Several physicians have said that because Howard was so young when the operation occurred, it is possible that his brain had a better capacity to repair or compensate, compared to older patients who were operated on.


Here is a website detailing some other interesting cases, including Howard Dully's: 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5014080