The latest research on mental health disorders and a full recovery offers some hope for anyone who struggles with mental illness. The researchers concluded that 4 out of 10 Canadians who were previously depressed and suicidal have done a complete turn around and have reached a full recovery. These individuals no longer have any suicidal thoughts, any substance abuse has been stopped, and they experience no signs of mental illness. These patients also reported having a high level of daily satisfaction with their current lives. University of Toronto Ph. D student and lead study author Philip Baiden explained “We found that among formerly suicidal individuals, those who have someone they could confide in were seven times more likely to have complete mental health, after adjusting for potential confounders.”
Studies have shown that support can lessen mental health disorders, and a strong support system is a must for a full recovery from mental illness when this goal is possible. Researcher and study co-author Dr. Esme Fuller-Thomson stated “Our findings provide a hopeful message for those in the depths of despair and their loved ones,. Long-term recovery goals should be not limited to mere remission from suicidal thoughts. A large minority of suicidal individuals can achieve a high level of happiness and complete mental health.” In order to perform the study a representative sample of data from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health from Statistics Canada was examined. Patients who also struggled with chronic pain, insomnia, and substance abuse did not fare as well in achieving a full recovery.
