Vegan Diet Mental Health Debate
A heated dispute over the death of a student who was following the vegan regimen recently surfaced in relation to a discussion about the link between nutrition, psychology, and radical changes in young people’s diets.
Although posts have circulated on the internet that blame the poor mental state of the girl for her nutritional habits, experts point out that mental illnesses, such as suicide, are multifactorial conditions.
Wellness of Mind Is Due to Multiple Causes, Health Specialists Emphasize
Experts in the health field emphasize that conditions like depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior are always brought about by multiple causes, either biologically or environmentally.
It would be wrong to believe that a person’s suicide is triggered by just one factor because it fosters discrimination or misunderstanding of the issues surrounding mental wellness.
Dietary Restrictions and Psychological Health
Even if the topic itself has been widely discussed, there is an issue that has been identified and raised. Namely, the harmful effect that dietary restrictions can have on certain individuals, such as young adults who experience various life changes while moving from being omnivores to vegans.
As nutritionists note, even though the diet of vegans is complete nutrition-wise, as long as it is planned correctly, poor planning and restricting any food group, vegan or otherwise, can cause vitamin B12, iron, omega-3 fatty acid, and vitamin D deficiencies.
However, it should be noted right away that nutrition has nothing to do with mental health.
Warnings From Experts on Simple Stories
“‘This is an area that should not be brushed aside,’ another expert states. ‘It happens many times that we try to find causes of something that has happened, but there is never a simple explanation to the problems of mental well-being.'”
“The health centers at the universities are stressing the fact that students belong to the category that is most vulnerable to having mental disorders due to the pressures of studies and financial concerns, among others.”
“All of these could happen irrespective of one’s diet or lifestyle.”
Plant-Based Foods and Public Perception
The discussion has helped understand the significance of conducting a balanced conversation regarding veganism as well as other diet options.
Advocates of plant-based foods believe that considering veganism to be negative all the time is not appropriate and would make those who adopt it targets due to their decisions.
It would be wise to focus on the individual’s health rather than blaming everything on veganism or plant-based food.
The Importance of Being Sensitive and Aware
With online discussions still raging, experts agree that cases like these must be dealt with delicately and that sweeping assumptions should not be made due to tragic circumstances.
Experts in mental health advise individuals experiencing mental issues to reach out to sources for help and support.
An example of one of these is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, where individuals can dial 988 to seek assistance.
By David Loran Jr
A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.
Sources:
Yahoo! Entertainment: Vegan College Student Dies by Suicide. Experts Say Her Mental Decline Was a ‘Direct Result’ of Her Diet
The Times: Vegan student’s vitamin deficiency ‘fuelled delusions’ before death
Featured Image Courtesy of Steve Jurvetson‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
