Depression is the WHO's leading cause of ill health

Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the organisation’s latest estimates, more than 300 million people are now living with depression — an increase of more than 18% between 2005 and 2015. The estimates have been released in the lead-up to World Health Day on 7 April, the high point in WHO’s year-long campaign ‘Depression: let’s talk’.

According to the WHO, one of the first steps is to address issues around prejudice and discrimination around this common mental illness. Increased investment is also needed, the organisation said, with many countries having little or no support available for people with mental health disorders. Even in high-income countries, nearly 50% of people with depression do not get treatment.

Yet investment in mental health makes economic sense, the organisation said, as every US$1 invested in scaling up treatment for depression and anxiety leads to a return of US$4 in better health and ability to work. Treatment usually involves either a talking therapy or antidepressant medication or a combination of the two. Both approaches can be provided by non-specialist health workers, following a short course of training, and using WHO’s mhGAP Intervention Guide.

Failure to act, meanwhile, is costing countries dearly. According to a WHO-led study, which calculated treatment costs and health outcomes in 36 low-, middle- and high-income countries for the 15 years from 2016–2030, low levels of recognition and access to care for depression and anxiety result in a global economic loss of US$1 trillion every year. These losses are incurred by households, employers and governments: households when people cannot work; employers when their employees become less productive; and governments when they have to cover health and welfare expenditures.

WHO has also identified strong links between depression and other non-communicable disorders and diseases. Depression increases the risk of substance-use disorders and diseases such as diabetes and heart disease; conversely, people with these conditions have a higher risk of depression. Depression is also an important risk factor for suicide, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

“These new figures are a wake-up call for all countries to rethink their approaches to mental health and to treat it with the urgency that it deserves,” said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.

If you require mental health support, contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or the Suicide Call Back Service.

Image credit: ©angelo.gi/Dollar Photo Club