Immigrants...population declines! Crack-down on illegals working...

According to a study conducted by the University of Southern California, the Immigrant population has declined over the past three years.

The foreign-born population (legal and illegal) was estimated at 26.6 percent this year.

The figure is down from a period in 2007 when the numbers peaked at 27.4 percent.

When translated into actual residents (and not percentages) the figures are quite telling.

Foreign-born residents are hovering in numbers at approximately 9.9 million, while the total population in California is currently 37.2 million.

Researchers have noted that this trend in a decrease in foreign-born population is across the country, and does not apply strictly to California.

The USC study, which draws on up-to-date Census Bureau data, reported that all six counties that make up Southern California were majority foreign-born in 1980.

In 2008, there was a noticeable change, however, in that all six  counties were majority native except for two of the large counties (Los Angeles & San Diego).

For obvious reasons, those pushing for tougher immigration laws are elated.

“The crack-down on illegal immigration is working.”

 
http://www.thetattler.biz/

Mental Illness...show compassion!

Just take a trip to the local library, a gander at a couple of anonymous posts on a popular blogsite on the Internet, or a stroll through the streets of downtown Los Angeles (and elsewhere) and it will become obvious that mental illness is a growing problem in this country today.

Sometimes there is an elephant in the room, but no one wants to talk about it.

But the issue is a serious one.

Should we just ignore the problem - (will it just go away?) - or should we tackle the issues head on?

Today, in our complex - and at times - baffling and troubling society it appears more people are feeling alienated, left out, or just plain angry.

Many are crying out for help.

We need to listen.

Medical findings of Researchers

A mental illness or mental disorder is a clinically significant psychological pattern that occurs in an individual and is usually associated with distress or a disability that is not expected as part of normal development or the culture itself.

Most agree, there has been a better understanding of mental illness over the past couple of decades.

Despite the fact - definitions, assessments, and classifications of mental disorders can vary - criteria listed in the ICD, DSM and other manuals are widely accepted by mental health professionals.

Categories which may require diagnosis include - mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, developmental disorders, and personality disorders, for starters.

In many cases, there is no single accepted or consistent cause for mental disorders.

But, mental disorders have been found to be common in over one-third of the population in most countries that have reported sufficient data to track and document.
.
Mental health services may be based in hospitals or in the community where mental health professionals have the facilities to diagnose individuals using different methodologies.

Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two major treatment options that may be worth considering.

Supportive interventions may appear to be a harsh approach, but are worthwhile pursuing, nonetheless.

In some instances, treatment may be involuntary where legislation allows.

A number of activists in the field have campaigned for changes in mental health services and attitudes about the disease - especially in view of the fact -  there is a widespread problem with stigma and discrimination.

Information provided by the National Institute on Mental Health 

Mental disorders are common in the U.S. and Internationally.

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older -  about one-in-four adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older the figure translates to 57.7 million people.

Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion (about 6 percent, or 1 in 17) who suffer from a serious mental illness.

In addition, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for the ages of 15-44.

Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time.

Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for two or more disorders with severity strongly related to comorbidity.

The Impact of Mental Illness on Society

The burden of mental illness on health and productivity in the United States and throughout the world has long been underestimated.

Data developed by the massive "Global Burden of Disease" study conducted by - the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and Harvard University - reveal that mental illness (including suicide) accounts for over 15 percent of the burden of disease in established market economies such as the United States.

This is more than the disease burden caused by all cancers.

*Thanks to World Health for image of "Mental Mask" featured above.

 

http://www.thetattler.biz

United States...white majority predicted until 2050! Middle America sighs...

Over the past couple of years - and during Barack Obama's run for President - there was a lot of hysteria around the country in respect to the issue of race and numbers.

Some lamented that an influx of illegal immigrants was flooding these shores with a glut of Latinos - drawing on and draining vital Health Services and public resources (welfare benefits) - which the country could ill afford.

In other quarters racial tensions grew - because Barack Obama's bid for the Presidency appeared to signal to some a thrust for supremacy among Afro-Americans - anxious to overthrow the wrinkly old-white-men who've been in power for the last two hundred years.

On the heels on this, the Census Bureau announced that based on the numbers they crunched lately (gleened from recent polls around the Nation) that the white majority will continue to prevail until at least the year 2050.

Did I hear a collective sigh of relief from Caucasians around the country?

The Census Bureau attributed the trend to the recent financial melt-down - and post September 11th immigration enforcement - to the slowing of growth of minority groups in the U.S.

During the course of the research census bureau staff determined that a prediction that the poplulation in the U.S. would reach 400 million by 2039 was unrealistic (especially if the patterns of migration continue along the same lines).

Surprisingly, the U.S. population stands at 308 million - of which - two-thirds are non-Hispanic whites.

According to John Pitkin - a demographic researcher - the latest findings underscore the potency of  immigration reform.

"If immigration contines to slow, planning and education would be seriously affected,"  he noted for the record.

"The flow of immigration makes it more difficult to finance social security. It does slow down the economy a bit."

"In terms of thinking of the U.S. and what kind of country it is, it's important to realize that its racial and ethnic composition is changing," added D'Vera Cohn of the Pew Research Center.

"It's hard to say if the lower immigration flow will become the new normal."

http://www.julianayrs.com

Mental Illness...show compassion!

Just take a trip to the local library, a gander at a couple of anonymous posts on a popular blogsite on the Internet, or a stroll through the streets of downtown Los Angeles - and elsewhere - and it will become obvious that mental illness is a growing problem in this country today.
Sometimes there is an elephant in the room, but no one wants to talk about it.

But the issue is a serious one.

Should we just ignore the problem - (will it just go away?) - or should we tackle the issues head on?

Today, in our complex - and at times - baffling and troubling society, it appears more people are feeling alienated, left out, or just plain angry.

Many are crying out for help...

We need to listen.


Medical findings of researchers
A mental illness or mental disorder is a clinically significant psychological pattern that occurs in an individual and is usually associated with distress or a disability that is not expected as part of normal development or the culture, itself.

Most agree, there has been a better understanding of mental illness over the past couple of decades.

Despite the fact - definitions, assessments, and classifications of mental disorders can vary - criteria listed in the ICD, DSM and other manuals are widely accepted by mental health professionals.

Categories which may require diagnosis include - mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, developmental disorders, personality disorders, for starters.

In many cases, there is no single accepted or consistent cause of mental disorders.

But, mental disorders have been found to be common in over one-third of the population in most countries that have reported sufficient data to track and document.

Mental health services may be based in hospitals or in the community where mental health professionals have the facilities to diagnose individuals using different methodologies.

Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two major treatment options that may be worth considering.

Supportive interventions may appear to be a harsh approach, but are worthwhile pursuing, nonetheless.

In some instances, reatment may be involuntary where legislation allows.

A number of activists in the field have campaigned for changes in mental health services and attitudes about the disease, especially in view of the fact there is a widespread problem with stigma and discrimination.

Information provided by he National Institute on Mental Health

Mental disorders are common in the U.S. and internationally.

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people.
Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion — about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 — who suffer from a serious mental illness.
In addition, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44.

Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for 2 or more disorders, with severity strongly related to comorbidity.

The Impact of Mental Illness on Society

The burden of mental illness on health and productivity in the United States and throughout the world has long been underestimated.

Data developed by the massive Global Burden of Disease study conducted by the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and Harvard University, reveal that mental illness, including suicide, accounts for over 15 percent of the burden of disease in established market economies, such as the United States.

This is more than the disease burden caused by all cancers.

*Thanks to World Health for image of "Mental Mask" featured above.