Global Study Reveals Disturbing Link Between Major Mental Health Concerns and Increased Risks of Physical Ailments, the whole study will Shock you! Read on to Know More.
In a recent study, researchers have found a strong connection between major mental health concerns and a higher likelihood of experiencing various physical ailments. The study, which examined data from 194,123 psychiatric patients globally, compared with 76,60,590 individuals in control groups, revealed that those with significant mental health issues are at an increased risk of conditions such as metabolic diseases, hypertension, epilepsy, respiratory issues, vascular diseases, kidney problems, gastrointestinal diseases, and even cancer.
Multimorbidity, the presence of multiple chronic diseases along with at least one other physical health condition, was 1.84 times more likely to be reported by mental health patients compared to the control group. This poses a serious concern as of 2019, nearly one billion people worldwide were grappling with mental disorders, making it the leading cause of disability. In England alone, one in every four individuals is expected to face a mental health condition during the year, according to data from Mind, a UK mental health resource.
Read more:- Digital Detox: Preserving Mental Health in the Digital Age
The study sheds light on the global scenario, indicating that a substantial number of individuals in need of mental health services lack access to effective, affordable, and high-quality care, especially in low-income countries. Shockingly, 71 per cent of people with psychosis worldwide do not receive necessary mental health services, revealing a stark contrast between high-income and low-income nations.
Lead author Lee Smith, Professor of Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Cambridge, emphasised the profound impact of severe mental illness on physical health. He stated, “Mental health is fundamental to our ability to make decisions, form relationships, and shape the world around us. Our research underscores that individuals with severe mental illness face a significantly higher risk of experiencing physical multimorbidity.”
Read more:- Mental Health: A Path to Inner Harmony
Smith highlighted the complexity of the relationship between severe mental illness and physical multimorbidity, stressing its broader implications. These include reduced treatment compliance, heightened risk of treatment failure, increased treatment costs, relapsing diseases, worsening prognosis, and diminished life expectancy.
“Poor clinical management of physical comorbidities in people with mental disorders only worsens the issue, placing a greater burden on individuals, their communities, and healthcare systems. An urgent, holistic approach is needed to enhance the physical, mental, and social outcomes for individuals dealing with severe mental illness and physical multimorbidity,” Smith concluded. The study calls for a comprehensive strategy to address the intertwined challenges of mental and physical health on a global scale.
Like this post?
Register at One World News to never miss out on videos, celeb interviews, and best reads.
