No results found

Knowledge, Perspectives, STEM

The Big Bang May

divider
The Big Bang Brain Made Out Of Human Hands Mental Health Awareness Week

What if I told you that a 16 year old girl with a broken leg was kept in a prison cell because there were no beds in the hospital… Sound ridiculous? Feel shocked? Even horrified? Now what if I told you that this story is true except for one fact – she didn’t have a broken leg, but a problem with her brain. This is the all too common plight of hundreds of people with mental health issues across the UK every year. In fact, in Devon (where the girl was detained) police report that they need to provide beds for more than 750 people because there is no space in appropriate places for them to go in the NHS. The police are clearly doing what they can, and the NHS is making progress, albeit slow, to improve mental health provision. But the issue at the core of this problem is the perception of mental illness as something less important than physical illness. This is a social issue that science may help us to address.

The taboo around mental health is deep rooted in our history. Medicine has handled disease, dysfunction and disorder of the brain with everything from fresh air to torture. Historically, medicine has tried to tackle all manner of disease with these approaches, yet in most areas we have developed both effective treatments and a level of sympathy and support for patients. Why has mental health care remained so far behind? Perhaps it’s because mental health issues affect behaviour, making us question what ‘normal’ behaviour really is; or maybe, because it is often so hard to find a diagnosis, people question whether the condition really exists – like the person has a choice. Whatever the perception, it seems we still don’t understand mental illnesses well.

One thing science makes clear is that mental health is not in ‘the mind’. The delicate interplay between hormones, neurotransmitters and nerve development define mental illness as a physical condition, albeit one that is entangled with concepts of consciousness, thought and in some cases, spirituality.

Dopamine, oestrogen, testosterone and oxytocin help our brain to form and to function. One study found that the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the developing foetus determined whether nerves moved to their correct location in the brain. The regulation of serotonin at this very early developmental stage was linked to the likelihood of depression as an adult. Another study on 160 teenagers over 4 years showed that those who hit puberty earlier were more likely to develop depression and anxiety.

We need to work hard as a society to get to the point where we are all just as comfortable telling people that our mother/father/son/daughter/husband/wife has a mental illness as we are them having a broken leg. Then we may find that medicine starts to make better progress helping people who are, so often, left alone, unsupported or criminalised.

RECOMMENDED

Oxford landmark
Mon 7 Oct 2024

Oxford is renowned worldwide as a center of academic excellence, and its contributions to science are no exception. With a history of groundbreaking discoveries, cutting-edge research, and world-class institutions, Oxford has been at the forefront of scientific advancement for centuries - just as it is the case withplayersbest.com in the betting industry in the recent years. From the earliest scientific explorations to modern-day innovations, the city has played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the world.

tranferring money
Thu 18 Jul 2024

There is no escaping that dealing with finances is a large part of doing business. Whether it is processing payments from customers or sending money to manufacturers, transferring money is a huge responsibility.

Kate Pankhurst
Tue 23 Apr 2024

Science Oxford loves to inspire curious children to explore our amazing world and reach for the stars and we were all delighted to unlock our inner astronauts with author and illustrator, Kate Pankhurst, at the fantastic Oxford Literary Festival 2024.

flags hnlyne
Tue 2 Apr 2024

In the rich tapestry of English history, few figures loom as large as St George, the patron saint of England. His legendary exploits, particularly his valiant battle against the fearsome dragon, have become ingrained in the cultural fabric of the nation. Yet, amidst the myths and legends, the historical details of his life remain somewhat elusive.