COVID-19 = A new mental health report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has shown that depression and anxiety went up by more than 25 per cent in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic alone.
The report, which was published by the WHO Friday, “provides a blueprint for governments, academics, health professionals, civil societies and others, with an ambition to support the world in transforming mental health.”
According to the global body, in 2019, nearly a billion people including 14 per cent of the world’s adolescents were living with a mental disorder.
The report noted that suicide accounted for more than one in 100 deaths and that 58 per cent of the suicides occurred before age 50.
It further said the people with severe mental health conditions die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population, mostly due to preventable physical diseases.
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It added that the estimate includes people living with schizophrenia, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders and other mental disorders.
It further noted that the prevalence of mental disorders varies with sex and age. “In both males and females, anxiety disorders and depressive disorders are the two most common mental disorders.”
The report also said anxiety disorders become prevalent at an earlier age than depressive disorders, noting that the latter before 10 years of age. “They continue to become more common in later life, with the highest estimates in people between 50 and 69.”
In his comment, the WHO director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus said, “Everyone’s life touches someone with a mental health condition. Good mental health translates to good physical health and this new report makes a compelling case for change.
“The inextricable links between mental health and public health, human rights and socio-economic development mean that transforming policy and practice in mental health can deliver real, substantive benefits for individuals, communities and countries everywhere. Investment into mental health is an investment into a better life and future for all.”
Depression, anxiety in times of COVID-19
The report noted that after adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial estimates of 193 million people increased to 246 million (3,153 cases per 100,000 population) for major depressive disorder, while for anxiety disorder it jumped from 298 million people to 374 million (4,802 per 100 000 population).
This data represents an increase of 28 and 26 per cent for major depressive and anxiety disorders, respectively, in just one year.
It added that in both cases, the countries that were hard hit by the pandemic had the greatest increases in disorder prevalence, with a greater increase among females than males globally.
“Globally there was also a greater change in prevalence among younger age groups than older ones, potentially reflecting the deep impact of school closures and social restrictions on youth mental health,” the report added.
Source – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/
