Raise more awareness for mental health and mental diseases like depressions

Every year on 10^th of October it is World Mental Health Day. The World Federation for Mental Health (www. Wfmh.com) is initiating this day which is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). With the help of targeted attempts like symposia, lectures and different actions they try to create a greater public awareness for mental health and mental diseases on World’s Mental Health Day.

The psychological strain of people suffering under mental diseases not only arises by the illness itself but also by the social stigma. Out of this reason, more information is required.

Depressions and chronic diseases

In different studies it was demonstrated that people suffering under a depression run a higher risk of becoming a physical illness as well. And also the other way round: often, chronic diseases lead to depressions. Risks exist that an unnoticed depression is making treatment and healing of a disease harder or that the medical condition is even declining. Thus, it is important that not only people concerned but also acquaintances, family, doctors and nursing staff should be aware of this problem.

The WFMH draws attention to the fact that

• about 20 % of all people suffering under asthma come down with anxiety and severe depressions.
• about every fourth diabetes-patient shows signs of depressions.
• studies proved that the risk of coming down with diabetes type II is massively increased by depressions.
• about half of all people suffering under cancer are affected by mental impairments and about 15 to 25 % suffer under a depression.
• every fifth patient suffering under a coronary heart disease has depressions.

A further example of a depression contracted from a chronic disease are chronic sleep disturbances. It is assumed that for people suffering under chronic sleep disturbances the risk of coming down with depressions is two to four times higher then for people with healthy sleep.

Annually the share of mental complaints and diseases like depressions, anxiety, addiction and burnout increases. According to WHO estimations about every fourth person has to deal with mental problems or mental diseases at least once per lifetime.

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This post is also available in / Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch in: German