Thursday 7 July 2016

Dasen Brajkovic - Psychiatry – Working with mental illness

Mental illness is often overlooked and underestimated by those who lack an understanding of the debilitating effect these diseases have on those afflicted. Dasen Brajkovic M.D. is a psychiatrist who understands how mental illness can wreak havoc on those who are suffering from those diseases as well as their loved ones. Many of these illnesses are misunderstood or deemed part of someone’s personality from those who choose not to delve deeper into the cause of the sick person’s actions. The result often leaves those suffering from mental illnesses in prisons or living on the street.

As medicine has advanced, there is a greater understanding of mental illnesses and treatment options. With an estimated half a million affected Americans slipping through the cracks each year, creating awareness of these illnesses and putting more emphasis on the human aspect of healthcare has created a greater need for psychiatry and the treatment these doctors can offer. Revamping the way we see mental illness and throwing out the stigma often associated with these diseases can help ease the process of seeking help for those in need of care.

Despite the estimated loss of $444 billion a year in mental illness related issues such as disability payments and lost productivity, only about one-third of the cost is due to medical care. This leaves approximately 60% of adults with mentally related illness untreated. Dasen Brajkovic is one of many doctors who believes in finding the root cause for symptoms related to mental illness and improving the overall quality and longevity of life for his patients.

Sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/12/mental-health-system-crisis/7746535/