Mental Health Problems, Can a Supplement Do Better Than Drugs?

It can be disturbing to learn to what extent mental health disorders affect people. For instance, nearly 50% of adult Americans age 19 through age 25 have suffered from some form and degree of mental health problem in the last 12 months, according to recently published clinical research. Perhaps more disturbing, the same research revealed that only a small percentage of those who suffered sought or received any treatment.
 
"These findings underscore the importance of treatment and prevention interventions...As these young people represent our nation's future, urgent action is needed to increase detection and treatment of psychiatric disorders," write Dr. Carlos
Blanco of the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University and his research colleagues.
 
These mental health problems, which can quite easily go undetected because they are not the same thing as a mental disease, can cause other even more severe mental or physical health problems. Alcoholism or drug abuse, stress-related
emotional or behavioral disorders, and compromised immune systems are among the most prominent symptoms that can be induced.

What can be done to fight this pervasive problem?
According to Dr. Britta Zimmer, who is a licensed naturopathic physician, "A few healthy habits to manage stress can have an incredibly positive impact." Zimmer also emphasises that the recent dismal turn the U.S. economy, has taken, which has ripple effects throughout most of the rest of the developed world, can be contributing to some of the mental health problems that are showing up.

Among these healthy habits would be proper breathing (don't take that for granted; the vast majority of people don't do it), doing activities that stimulate the mind such as reading and playing/listening to music, getting regular exercise, and  eating a smart blend of foods. But these healthy habits can also include taking supplements.
 
Dr. Zimmer helps to formulate a brand of diet supplement products called Good Elements. One of these products is called "Chill", designed to reduce the effects of stress and elevate mood. Contained within Chill are L-Theanine, Rhodiola rosea,
and Vitamin B-6 and B-5, and the herb Skullcap. And also contained within it is the compound 5 HTP (5 Hydroxytryptophan).
 
5 HTP, sometimes called the "good mind drug", is created in the body, and used to elevate and regulate serotonin levels; in fact, it BECOMES serotonin in the body as it is metabolised. Serotonin is a compound that plays a strong role in regulating brain activity and is seen as a chemical compound that, in the right amounts, creates balance in human emotional and thought processes.
 
With mental health problems running rampant, it would seem that a suffering person has nothing to lose from trying out 5 HTP supplements.