Why is World Mental Health Day celebrated? How many people live with a mental disorder? Who are the most involved in Colombia? Here we tell you.
In 1982, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), promoted the commemoration of World Health Day with the aim of Raise awareness about mental health issues around the world.
The definition of health proposed in 1946 by the WHO is “have a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease or infirmity”. In this way, links are established between physical and mental health, as pillars of personal well-being.
The drawback is that the pandemic, wars, lack of opportunities, economic problems, climate change, social and political conflicts, among other situations, have generated an increase in people’s emotional and mental discomfort.
Reason why, the commemoration of this day becomes relevant and important, in the midst of the uncertain future, mental health is affected and conditions such as depression or anxiety come to light for people.
Data offered by the World Health Organization highlights that:
- 1 in 4 people will have a mental disorder throughout his life. What is it like to live with a mental disorder? Find out .
- Between 35% and 50% they do not receive any treatment or it is not appropriate.
- 12.5% Of all health problems, it is represented by mental disorders, a figure greater than that of cancer and cardiovascular problems.
- 450 million people All over the world are affected by a mental health problem that seriously makes their lives difficult.
- 1% of the world population will develop some form of throughout its life.
- More than 300 million people in the world live with depressiona mental health problem that has increased by 18.4% between 2005 and 2015.
- 50% of mental health problems in adults They begin before the age of 14, and 75% before the age of 18.
- Nearly 800,000 people commit suicide each yearbeing the second cause of death in people between 15 and 29 years old. How to prevent suicide? Here we tell you.
Figures in Colombia
According to the Ministry of Health, there is a growing prevalence of depression in the country, approximately 5% of the adult population, being the second cause of disease burden.
He 44.7% of girls and boys have signs of some mental problem and 2.3% have .
In adolescence the most frequent disorders are anxiety, social phobia and depression; the suicidal ideation occurs in 6.6% of this population (7.4% in women and 5.7% in men). As adults, 6.7% have experienced affective disorders.
From the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Nubia Bautista, deputy director of Non-communicable Diseases of the Directorate of Promotion and Prevention, pointed out that, Conditions such as high economic vulnerability, job instability, violence, lack of access to basic services, decent housing and decent income, so that families can guarantee a healthy diet, are aspects that affect the mental health of the population.
How to take care of your mental health?
Follow these and this list of , in case you need it. In the case of children or adolescents,