Research Work

RESEARCH WORK
As the study of mental health became more mainstream

scientist and doctors all over world have found out that bad
mental health can be responsible for a lot of other disorders
like:
1. Depression
Depression is a common illness worldwide, with an

estimated 3.8% of the population affected, including 5.0%
among adults and 5.7% among adults older than 60 years.
Approximately 280 million people in the world have
depression. Depression is different from usual mood
fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to
challenges in everyday life. Especially when recurrent and
with moderate or severe intensity, depression may become a
serious health condition. It can cause the affected person to
suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school and in
the family. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Over
700 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the
fourth leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.
Although there are known, effective treatments for mental

disorders, more than 75% of people in low- and middle-
income countries receive no treatment. Barriers to effective
care include a lack of resources, lack of trained health-care
providers and social stigma associated with mental disorders.
In countries of all income levels, people who experience
depression are often not correctly diagnosed, and others
who do not have the disorder are too often misdiagnosed
and prescribed antidepressants.
2. Bipolar disorder
This disorder affects about 45 million people worldwide. It
typically consists of both manic and depressive episodes
separated by periods of normal mood. Manic episodes
involve elevated or irritable mood, over-activity, rapid
speech, inflated self-esteem and a decreased need for
sleep. People who have manic attacks but do not
experience depressive episodes are also classified as
having bipolar disorder.
3. Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder, affecting 20

million people worldwide. Psychoses, including
schizophrenia, are characterized by distortions in thinking,
perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour.
Common psychotic experiences include hallucinations
(hearing, seeing or feeling things that are not there) and
delusions (fixed false beliefs or suspicions that are firmly held
even when there is evidence to the contrary). The disorder
can make it difficult for people affected to work or study
normally.
Stigma and discrimination can result in a lack of access to

health and social services. Furthermore, people with
psychosis are at high risk of exposure to human rights
violations, such as long-term confinement in institutions.
Schizophrenia typically begins in late adolescence or early

adulthood. Treatment with medicines and psychosocial
support is effective. With appropriate treatment and social
support, affected people can lead a productive life and be
integrated in society. Facilitation of assisted living, supported
housing and supported employment can act as a base from
which people with severe mental disorders, including
schizophrenia, can achieve numerous recovery goals as they
often face difficulty in obtaining or retaining a place to live
and normal employment.
4. Dementia
Worldwide, approximately 50 million people have dementia.

Dementia is usually of a chronic or progressive nature in
which there is deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the
ability to process thought) beyond what might be expected
from normal ageing. It affects memory, thinking, orientation,
comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and
judgement. The impairment in cognitive function is
commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, by
deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour, or
motivation.
Dementia is caused by a variety of diseases and injuries that

affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke.
Though there is no treatment currently available to cure
dementia or to alter its progressive course, many treatments
are in various stages of clinical trials. Much can be done,
however, to support and improve the lives of people with
dementia and their carers and families.
Effects of Covid on mental health

According to the survey conducted by WHO from June to
August 2020 among 130 countries across WHO’s six regions. It
evaluates how the provision of mental, neurological and
substance use services has changed due to COVID-19, the types
of services that have been disrupted, and how countries are
adapting to overcome these challenges.
Countries reported widespread disruption of many kinds of

critical mental health services:
 Over 60% reported disruptions to mental health services

for vulnerable people, including children and adolescents
(72%), older adults (70%), and women requiring antenatal
or postnatal services (61%).
 67% saw disruptions to counseling and psychotherapy;
65% to critical harm reduction services; and 45% to opioid
agonist maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.
 More than a third (35%) reported disruptions to
emergency interventions, including those for people
experiencing prolonged seizures; severe substance use
withdrawal syndromes; and delirium, often a sign of a
serious underlying medical condition.
 30% reported disruptions to access for medications for
mental, neurological and substance use disorders.
 Around three-quarters reported at least partial disruptions
to school and workplace mental health services (78% and
75% respectively).
While many countries (70%) have adopted telemedicine or

teletherapy to overcome disruptions to in-person services,
there are significant disparities in the uptake of these
interventions. More than 80% of high-income countries
reported deploying telemedicine and teletherapy to bridge
gaps in mental health, compared with less than 50% of low-
income countries.
WHO has issued guidance to countries on how to maintain

essential services ̶ including mental health services ̶ during
COVID-19 and recommends that countries allocate resources to
mental health as an integral component of their response and
recovery plans. The Organization also urges countries to
monitor changes and disruptions in services so that they can
address them as required.
Although 89% of countries reported in the survey that mental

health and psychosocial support is part of their national COVID-
19 response plans, only 17% of these countries have full
additional funding for covering these activities.
This all highlights the need for more money for mental health.
As the pandemic continues, even greater demand will be placed
on national and international mental health programmes that
have suffered from years of chronic underfunding. Spending 2%
of national health budgets on mental health is not enough.
International funders also need to do more: mental health still
receives less than 1% of international aid earmarked for health.
Those who do invest in mental health will reap rewards. Pre-

COVID-19 estimates reveal that nearly US$ 1 trillion in
economic productivity is lost annually from depression and
anxiety alone. However, studies show that every US$ 1 spent
on evidence-based care for depression and anxiety returns
US$5.
(source WHO site)

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RESEARCH WORK

As the study of mental health became more mainstream

Depression is a common illness worldwide, with an

Although there are known, effective treatments for mental

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder, affecting 20

Stigma and discrimination can result in a lack of access to

Schizophrenia typically begins in late adolescence or early

Worldwide, approximately 50 million people have dementia.

Dementia is caused by a variety of diseases and injuries that

Effects of Covid on mental health

Countries reported widespread disruption of many kinds of

 Over 60% reported disruptions to mental health services

While many countries (70%) have adopted telemedicine or

WHO has issued guidance to countries on how to maintain

Although 89% of countries reported in the survey that mental

Those who do invest in mental health will reap rewards. Pre-

(source WHO site)

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