Please click on the link for the article by BY ERIC LANGSHUR AND NATE KLEMP PHD
Two Science-backed Ways to Ease a Worried Mind.
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Mortality DeterminantsMortality Determinants
Overall Global Leading Cause of Death
- Ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) – Still the #1 cause of death worldwide.
- Followed by: Stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lower respiratory infections, and cancer (e.g., lung, liver, colorectal).
Breakdown by Category
By Age
| Age Group | Leading Cause(s) of Death |
|---|---|
| Infants (<1) | Neonatal conditions, birth complications, infections |
| Children (1–14) | Accidents (injuries), infections (low-income countries), cancers (e.g., leukemia) |
| Youth (15–24) | Road injuries, suicide, homicide (varies by country) |
| Adults (25–44) | Injuries (road, drug overdose), suicide, HIV/AIDS (in some countries), heart disease |
| Middle Age (45–64) | Heart disease, cancer (esp. lung, colorectal, breast), liver disease |
| Older Adults (65+) | Heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease |
By Gender/Sex
| Group | Leading Cause of Death |
|---|---|
| Cisgender Men | Heart disease, cancer (lung, liver), accidents |
| Cisgender Women | Heart disease, cancer (breast, lung), stroke |
| Transgender Individuals | Elevated risk from violence, suicide, and HIV/AIDS (especially trans women of color); limited large-scale data |
| Non-binary | Insufficient population-specific data, but risks often parallel those of trans populations or assigned sex at birth |
By Race/Ethnicity (Example: United States)
| Group | Top Causes | Unique Issues |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | Heart disease, cancer, drug overdose | |
| Black or African American | Heart disease, cancer, higher stroke risk | |
| Hispanic/Latino | Heart disease, cancer, diabetes | |
| Native American | Accidents, liver disease, diabetes, suicide | |
| Asian American | Cancer (leading cause), stroke, heart disease |
Note: Disparities arise from systemic inequalities, access to care, and social determinants of health.
By Sexuality (LGBTQ+)
- Limited global data, but in many regions:
- Higher risk of suicide, mental health disorders, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS (especially among MSM and trans women).
- Discrimination and healthcare avoidance contribute to worsened outcomes.
- Common causes of death still include heart disease and cancer, with higher rates of premature death linked to stigma and healthcare disparities.
By Geographic Region
| Region | Leading Cause(s) |
|---|---|
| High-Income Countries | Heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, stroke |
| Low- and Middle-Income Countries | Infectious diseases (TB, HIV), maternal mortality, stroke, heart disease |
| Africa | HIV/AIDS, malaria, lower respiratory infections |
| Asia | Stroke, heart disease, chronic lung disease |
| North America | Heart disease, cancer, drug overdose (opioid crisis) |
| Europe | Heart disease, stroke, cancer |
| Latin America | Violence (in younger adults), heart disease, diabetes |
By Profession
- Agricultural/farm workers: High injury rates, pesticide exposure, suicide
- Construction workers: Falls, injuries, exposure to toxins (e.g., asbestos)
- Healthcare workers: Infectious disease, burnout, mental health risks
- Military/first responders: Combat-related injuries, PTSD, suicide
- Office workers: Sedentary lifestyle risks (heart disease, diabetes)
Occupation-linked deaths often relate to environmental exposures, physical risks, or psychological stressors.
Conclusion:
Across almost all demographics, heart disease remains the leading cause of death, followed by cancer, stroke, and—in certain populations—accidents, suicide, or infectious diseases. However, the underlying causes (social, economic, political) differ significantly based on identity, geography, and profession.
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Eating Disorders DSM-5Eating Disorders DSM-5
Psychologists believe that the core issues of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are multifaceted, involving a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Here are some of the key issues:
Anorexia Nervosa
- Distorted Body Image: Individuals with anorexia often have a distorted perception of their body size and shape, seeing themselves as overweight even when they are underweight.
- Intense Fear of Gaining Weight: There is an overwhelming fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, which drives restrictive eating behaviors.
- Control Issues: Anorexia can be a way for individuals to exert control over their lives, especially if they feel powerless in other areas.
- Perfectionism: Many individuals with anorexia have perfectionistic tendencies, striving for an unattainable ideal of thinness.
- Emotional Regulation: Restricting food intake can be a way to manage or numb difficult emotions and stress.
Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge-Purge Cycle: Bulimia is characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by purging behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives.
- Body Dissatisfaction: Similar to anorexia, individuals with bulimia often have a negative body image and are preoccupied with their weight and shape.
- Impulsivity: Bulimia is often associated with impulsive behaviors and difficulties in regulating emotions.
- Shame and Guilt: After binge eating, individuals with bulimia often feel intense shame and guilt, which perpetuates the cycle of purging3.
- Co-occurring Mental Health Issues: Anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders are commonly seen in individuals with bulimia.
Both disorders are complex and can have severe physical and psychological consequences. Treatment typically involves addressing these core issues through therapy, medical monitoring, nutritional counselling, and support groups.
Emotions: Function and MotivationEmotions: Function and Motivation
Joy or happiness can motivate us to join in, take part, flourish, share, be a part of, repeat these activities.
Fear can motivate us to get away, hide, flee, run, keep ourselves or others safe. It protects us.
Sadness can motivate us to withdraw, ruminate, cry, heal, express hurt, seek comfort and bond with others.
Anger can motivate us to attack, defend or stand up for ourselves, identify boundary violation, identify there is a threat to our self or our loved ones or something we value.
Guilt can motivate us to repair what we have done and informs us that we have violated our morals or values.
Shame can motivate us to hide away, to keep things secret, to remember our fallibility and humility, to keep us “right sized”.
Disgust can motivate us to withdraw, keep a distance, get clean or clean our environment to ensure we stay healthy.
Compassion, empathy, or sympathy can motivate us to offer comfort, be with others, relate to one another and form strong bonds.
Confusion (Cognitive with physical sensations) can motivate us to get curious, learn, discover, grow.
Affection (behavioural with physical sensations) can motivate us to give love, get close to specific people who were feel safe with, and want to spend more time with.