statistics

Furthering the “good news” story that appeared on MN mid-August, and the notable absence of any significant media coverage in the UK of the apparent decline in mental health related homicide, I was listening to an ABC Radio presentation here in Oz which can be downloaded in podcast from here with one (maybe more?) of the authors, of the BMJ article, Matthew Large. I first thought it was odd that such a report should get better media coverage in Oz than the country of origin - but having looked - 3 of the 4 authors are Oz/NZ based.

Further resources can be found here here and the full BMJ in iPaper for - here.

In healthcare and government leadership, responsibility and direction has more or less been driven by the need for a healthier nation. For the larger part this means ensuring living for a long time.

So it is somewhat shocking and revealing to find this article that provides a new and significant departure from what might be considered traditional medicine.

In this article it is clearly stated:

People who have more birthdays live longer

What implications is this astonishing fact going to have on healthcare for now and the future?

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It’s a good thing we keep so many mentally ill in hospital - just think how high the Mind report for community abuse figures would be if we didn’t?

(That was sarcasm, just in case you missed it)

I’m not against the sentiments of the Mind report, I consider many people with mental illness to have a ‘vulnerability’ that requires constant monitoring and sympathetic consideration. But I have some concerns about the data that backs the report which are similar to TheShrinks response to the original posting.

I do not find the report all that useful or, after only a brief review, as “shocking” as it makes out. Such a posting may be sounding morally inappropriate to some. Nevertheless, I shall attempt to explain why I am disappointed with the report and have taken a whole new posting to do so.

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