Geneva: On World Mental Health Day (10 October),
the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for an end to the stigmatisation
of depression and other mental disorders and for better access to treatment for
all people who need it.
Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the
Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse said that globally, more than
350 million people have depression, a mental disorder that prevents people from
functioning well.
Saxena said depression "is very much
treatable" and "can be identified and treated by general doctors and
nurses."
However, he said, because of the stigma
that is often still attached to depression, many fail to acknowledge that they
are ill and do not seek treatment.
Sarah Wollaston, a Member of the British
Parliament and a medical professional, said "the stigma that surrounds
depression is a major issue" but acknowledged that she only realized
"how debilitating this condition is" after suffering herself an
episode of post-natal depression.
Another British Member of Parliament, Kevan
Jones, said it was important to be supportive and "understanding and
recognizing that one in four will suffer from some sort of mental illness in
their life and that you will have a family member or friend who suffers from
it."
Terming depression, which afflicts 350
million people worldwide, an “under-appreciated global health crisis,”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for an international effort
to increase access to a wide variety of effective and affordable treatments and
remove the social stigma attached to the illness.
WHO estimates suggest that depression is
common in all regions of the world. A recent study supported by WHO revealed
that around 5 percent of people in the community had depression during the last
year.
World Mental Health Day was initiated by
the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992. The day is used by many
countries and organizations to raise public awareness about mental health
issues and to promote open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in
prevention, promotion and treatment services.