Good mental health is an important part of life, just like good physical health. We are constantly given advice on how to take care of our bodies, but for far too long, what we should do for our mental health, who we should turn to, and how we should understand it, has remained in the shadows.
Increased awareness and a willingness to talk about mental health have begun a new era of understanding and acceptance, leading to the loosening of certain types of public stigma. But we still face many challenges ahead.
The societal consequences of poor mental health are alarming: 25% of the European population suffers from depression or anxiety, and neuropsychiatric disorders account for 19.5% of the disease burden in EU countries, while the cost of affective disorders and anxiety amounts to 170 billion euros per year.
The personal consequences are devastating: Lives are destroyed, families are torn apart, and opportunities are erased. Up to 50% of all long-term sick leave is due to depression and anxiety, and no country is spared from suicide. The World Health Organization launched a campaign to prevent suicide in 2019 after reports that 128,000 people in Europe take their lives every year.
Mental health issues are complex and are strongly influenced by factors such as family, employment, poverty, discrimination, and access to healthcare.
Mental Health Europe, the largest independent network organization representing patients, professionals, and service providers across Europe, fights for mental health to be treated equally with physical health in terms of funding and service provision: ”We advocate for good mental health and well-being, as well as the rights of people living with mental health problems. We raise awareness to end the stigma and discrimination of mental illness.”
We are all likely to experience some form of mental health issue in our lives, but for many, it is far from a passing phase due to the deep and lasting impact it has on happiness, the ability to form and maintain relationships, and having a productive life.
The effects begin at an early age and continue throughout life. Research shows that children and teenagers with poor mental health are likely to perform worse in school and have poorer employment opportunities. Adults become less productive at work and are at greater risk of relationship problems, while older adults are more likely to become isolated when experiencing mental health issues.
The compelling reasons to de-stigmatise mental health issues and improve the provision of services transcend all boundaries related to age, gender, socioeconomics, and geography.
Increasing evidence and awareness of the burden of mental health problems in Europe have led to improvements, but the personal and economic consequences are still a shame for society and national healthcare systems.
Mental and physical health go hand in hand in our lives, and one can have either a harmful or positive impact on the other. The World Health Organization defines health as ”a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
This definition has remained unchanged since 1948.
Research has shown that 30% of people with a long-term physical health condition also have depression or anxiety. The effect of poor mental health on physical illness was estimated to cost the National Health Service in England 9 billion euros per year – which can also be seen across Europe with a total of 600 billion euros in the 28 EU countries.
References:
- World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe. Facts and Figures. Accessed February 2021. https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/mental-health/news/news/2012/10/depression-in-europe/depression-in-europe-facts-and-figures
- World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe. WHO launches campaign on suicide prevention. Accessed February 2021. https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/events/events/2019/09/who-launches-campaign-on-suicide-prevention
- Mental Health Europe. Our Mission. Accessed February 2021. https://www.mhe-sme.org/who-we-are-2/#1506698796176-ec64e16f-8e5b
- OECD/European Union. Promoting mental health in Europe. November 2018. Accessed February 2021. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/health_glance_eur-2018-4-en.pdf?expires=1611771169&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=82CAA689890C8B4CDD6F862F9C004FFC
- World Health Organization. What is the WHO definition of health? Accessed February 2021. https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions
- The King’s Fund. Mental Health: Time to Think Differently. Accessed February 2021. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/time-think-differently/trends-disease-and-disability-mental-physical-health
- Mental health problems costing Europe heavily. Accessed February 2021. https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/mental-health-problems-costing-europe-heavily.htm
