Thursday, June 03, 2004
Rockin' the CatskillsI'm having another splendid time in New Jersey! This past weekend, we went up to the Catskill Mountain Preserve for some backpacking. Despite the black flies (or as I like to call them, "Damn Yankee mosquitoes!"), a swell time was had by all (okay, both). Splendid.
Why hasn't anything in the news stirred my interest enough for me to blog about it? Certainly, a lot has been going on, but somehow I just keep waiting for November...
One exception:
Why does America lead the world in mental illness? We do, you know.A World Health Organization study released Tuesday shows that rates of most mental illness are far higher in the U.S. than in any other country in the world.
At the same time, the study indicates that money used to treat mental health problems in the U.S. and abroad is not being spent in the most effective way possible.
Overall, the survey of more than 60,000 adults in 14 countries showed a 27% rate of mental disorders in the U.S. population for a list of diseases. That list includes: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. The U.S. rate was substantially higher than that of any other country measured, including other industrialized nations such as Belgium, which showed a 12% illness rate.
[full story] My best guess (you knew I'd have one) is that our society feeds on the belief that having more stuff, combined with "success," will make us happy. Since that's not true, we (many of us, anyway) end up mental.
Or maybe we're just less embarrassed talking about our feelings. Music In My Head- Juno Reactor — "Pistolero"
- Peter, Paul, and Mary — "If I Had a Hammer"
- Hollies — "The Air That I Breathe"
- Allison Krauss — "When You Say Nothing At All"
- Alabama — "I'm In A Hurry"
- Nickelback — "Figured You Out"
- The Beach Boys — "Surfin' USA"
- Stone Poneys (featuring Linda Ronstadt) — "Different Drum"
- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers — "Free Fallin'"
Of course, I'm going to keep getting more stuff; I bought some today (business clothes) specifically to help me succeed. Fortunately, I'm already happy! Yay!
Posted by Me at 22:27 link
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