Healthy minds....healthy lives.....

How dare you!??? When it comes to questions of health, one of the most pervasive and elusive issues relates to matters of a healthy mind! Who among us has the right to judge others, based on apparent (and often not so apparent) differences of the mind or  rather respective 'thought processes'? It is a well known fact - yes FACT, that what we actually know least about ourselves IS the way the human brain works. The questions are significant and numerous, but lets narrow them down:  WHY do some people master academics whilst others are more likely to master the art of being streetwise?  WHY do some people have a natural tendency to optimism, whilst many others will see the proverbial half-empty glass? These are but 2 poignant examples of the extremities which describe differences in thought functionality for all of us - and which in turn ostensibly influences large portions of our respective lives. Indeed, it is likely to be a long time before these questions are finally answered...if at all!  In the meantime, there is something far more fundamental which 'fair-minded' (no puns intended) persons should be asking - is it correct, in terms of the administration and execution of important decision-making - such as with public policies on health, education, legal matters, the rights of children, labour policies, recruitment....even those regulations governing how corporations advertise - that those empowered with decision-making capacity should be allowed to make such decisions so freely? OR are matters of the 'health of our minds' really issues that are more appropriately the subject of (1) significant and substantial research prior to decision making and/or (2) referenda in which care is taken to ensure that even minority views are given complete respect? Any and every person should have an inherent right to participate in any decisions about his or her 'mental state' and decisions should only be made after comprehensive, unequivocal research and empirical, substantial proof! Topical is that of ADULT ADHD and ADD - or attention deficit hyperactive disorder (or attention deficit disorder) in adults - it seems that there are a substantial number of people who happily, ignorantly and dangerously deny the very existence of this "disorder" - this is undoubtedly unfair! Studies carried out by researchers from Boston Children's Hospital, the Mayo Clinic and Texas Children's Hospital in the US, funded by the US Public Health Service, have, like many studies before, REINFORCED the existence of Adult ADHD and point to risks of ignoring it. The studies also explain the typical symptoms and methods for managing the condition see this link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2287895/ADHD-doesnt-just-affect-children--THIRD-suffer-symptoms-adulthood.html - PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS IMPORTANT MATTER AND LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON WHAT WE AS A SOCIETY CAN BE DOING IN ORDER TO TREAT PEOPLE WHO FACE THIS REALITY WITH A GREATER SENSE OF FAIRNESS? Patrick Schmid