Depression: Let's talk…

...calls on WHO while depression tops the list of causes of poor health

Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. According to the latest estimates of the World Health Organization, today more than 300 million people in the world are living with depression, which means an increase of more than 18% over the period from 2005 to 2015. Due to lack of support and fears of stigmatization, many people with mental disorders do not seek the treatment necessary to enable them to live a healthy and productive life.

The new estimates were released on the eve of World Health Day, celebrated on April 7 and the culmination of the WHO's annual campaign "Depression: Let's Talk." This campaign aims to ensure that more people with depression everywhere in the world seek and receive medical care.

As the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, noted, "These new data serve as a signal to all countries, forcing them to think again about approaches to mental health and urgently address this problem to the extent that it deserves it."

One of the first steps is to take measures against prejudice and discrimination. "The ongoing stigma associated with mental illness was the reason for the decision to name our campaign "Depression: Let's Talk," said Dr. Shekhar Saxena, Director of the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. "For a person living with depression, talking to someone they trust can often be the first step towards treatment and recovery."

There is an urgent need to expand investments

It is also necessary to expand investments. In many countries, people with mental health disorders, if they receive any support, it is very little. Even in high-income countries, about 50% of people with depression do not receive treatment. On average, only 3% of public health budgets are invested in mental health care – from less than 1% in low-income countries to 5% in high-income countries.

Investments in mental health are economically justified. Every US dollar invested in scaling up the treatment of depression and anxiety conditions brings in $4 due to improved health and ability to work. Treatment usually encompasses conversational therapy and/or antidepressant treatment. Both options can be offered by non-specialist health workers after a short course of specialized training and based on the use of the WHO Practical Guide for the Implementation of its Global Mental Health Action Programme (mhGAP). More than 90 countries with different income levels have introduced or expanded programs providing treatment for depression and other mental disorders based on the use of this Practical Guide.

Inaction is expensive. According to a WHO study on calculating treatment costs and health outcomes in 36 low-, middle- and high-income countries over 15 years from 2016 to 2030, low levels of recognition and access to medical care for depression and other common mental disorders such as anxiety disorder leads to global economic losses, measured at one trillion US dollars per year. These losses are borne by families, employers and governments. Families suffer financial losses when people cannot work. Employers suffer from the fact that their employees become less productive and unable to work. Governments are forced to increase spending on health and social security.

Depression-related health risks

WHO has identified strong links between depression and other non-communicable disorders and diseases. Depression increases the risk of substance use disorders and diseases such as diabetes and heart disease; conversely, people with these health disorders are at increased risk of developing depression.

In addition, depression is an important risk factor for suicide – for this reason, hundreds of thousands of human lives are cut short every year.

According to Dr. Saxena, "A better understanding of depression and how it can be treated is very important, but this is just the beginning. This should be followed by a sustained expansion of mental health services accessible to all people, even from the most remote areas in the world."

Depression is a common mental illness characterized by persistent despondency and loss of interest in what usually gives people pleasure, accompanied by an inability to perform everyday tasks for 14 or more days.

In addition, people with depression are usually characterized by some of the following signs: loss of strength, change in appetite, more or less prolonged sleep, anxiety, decreased concentration, indecision, agitated state, feelings of worthlessness, guilt or hopelessness, as well as thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  03.04.2017