What should you know about mental health?
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- Published: Monday, 07 November 2016 11:26
Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. In fact it's common for people with a long-term physical problem to also have a mental health problem, and vice versa. So if you lead a lifestyle which takes good care of your body (good diet, plenty of exercise, no smoking and little or no alcohol) the chances are that it's good for your mental state too.
Looking after your mind goes further though. It's extremely important that you are aware of your mental state so that you can catch any problems before they grow.
One thing to be aware of is that mental health problems are much more prevalent than you might imagine. In fact as many as one in four of all people are likely to develop a mental health problem in their lifetime, whether it is stress, anxiety, depression or any of a wide range of issues.
- Mental health problems are one of the main causes of the overall disease burden worldwide.
- Mental health and behavioural problems (e.g. depression, anxiety and drug use) are reported to be the primary causes of disability worldwide, causing over 40 million years of disability in 20 to 29-year-olds.
- Major depression is thought to be the second leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the burden of suicide and ischaemic heart disease.
- It is estimated that 1 in 6 people in the past week experienced a common mental health problem.
