World Mental Health Day - 10 October 2012
World Mental Health Day was initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992. The day is used by many countries and organizations especially the World Health Organization to raise public awareness about mental health issues and to promote open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. The main theme for the 20th anniversary of World Mental Health Day is depression.
A WHO fact sheet, flyer and
short video which looks at depression from the perspective of a person suffering from the condition, will be posted on the WHO web site in the lead-up to 10 October. These will be accessible from the
WHO wesbite.
Background
World Mental Health Day was initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992. The day is used by many countries and organizations especially the World Health Organization to raise public awareness about mental health issues and to promote open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. The main theme for the 20th anniversary of World Mental Health Day is depression.
1. Depression is a common but serious mental disorder that touches all of us.
· Globally, more than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression. Many millions more are indirectly affected when close relatives or friends go through depression.
· The burden of depression is on the rise and overall, 50% more women have depression than men.
· One or two out of 10 women giving childbirth experiences post-partum depression.
· Recent studies show that many adolescents and young adults also suffer from depression.
· Depression is different from other mood fluctuations. Depression induces a sustained feeling of sadness for two weeks or more and interferes with daily life activities.
· One of the most tragic consequences of depression is suicide. Almost one million people commit suicide every year; a large proportion of them suffer from depression.
· The other consequence is the impact of depression on other chronic diseases such as hypertension, asthma and heart disease (angina). Depression makes them worse and reduces adherence to treatment.
2. Depression can be reliably diagnosed and treated.
· Depression can be identified early by trained general health professionals like doctors and nurses.
· Most people suffering from depression can be effectively treated and resume normal productive lives without needing hospitalization.
· Known, effective treatments for depression include psycho-social treatment and medication. However, active involvement of the person and the family in treating depression is very important.
· Fewer than half of the people suffering from depression (in most parts of the world fewer than 30% and in some countries fewer than 10%) receive treatment.
· Even in some high-income countries, people who are depressed are not always correctly diagnosed and treated.
3. Recognizing the depression and seeking help is the first and most critical step for recovery.
· Research shows that the earlier the treatment begins, the more effective it is, and the longer a patient waits to begin treatment the greater the impairment can become.
· Continuing stigmatization of depression means many people avoid treatment. This results in prolonged suffering and disability.
4. WHO supports countries in making available effective and affordable measures to prevent and treat mental disorders including depression.
· Through WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), health workers in low-income countries are trained to recognize mental disorders and provide proper care, psycho-social assistance and medication to those with depression.
· WHO is assisting governments in including depression in their basic health care packages, so that everyone with depression can receive the treatment they need.