1 million Poles are taking antidepressants, the president of the Polish Psychiatric Association, Prof. Janusz Heitzman. Every year 1,5 million people report to psychological institutions.
On Wednesday, World Mental Health Day is celebrated for the 20th time, this year under the slogan – Depression – a global crisis.
On this occasion, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Polish Psychiatric Association remind us that every fifth adult person has experienced mental disorders at some point in their life. The most common ones are neuroses, anxiety disorders as well as depression and psychosis. They are a more common cause of disability, e.g. sickness absenteeism, than cancer and heart disease.
Far more people do not suffer from mental disorders, but show a deteriorated mental condition. From the research presented by prof. Heitzman during the debate “In connection with depression …”, which took place a few months ago, shows that 45 percent. Poles are concerned about their mental health.
As much as 85 percent. of the respondents assess the living conditions in our country as harmful to mental health. The reason is the fear of unemployment (indicated by 77% of respondents), the crisis of the family (47%) and poverty (41%). In turn, 38 percent. of respondents are concerned about alcohol or drug addiction.
The main reason for this is too strong and long-lasting stress, which the WHO recognized as a disease of the XNUMXth century. More and more people feel them and not all of them can cope with them, especially those who have a reduced mental condition and are unable to rest or relax.
Most of these people, however, do not suffer from depression, but only experience a deterioration of mood. From the data cited by prof. Heitzman shows that 25 percent. Poles feel “exhausted and exhausted”, 28 percent. claims to be “tired”, 16 percent. are “very nervous” and 12 percent. feels “sadness and fatigue”.
These people only experience “bumps in the path of spiritual and emotional life,” as the psychologist Ewa Woydyłło puts it in the book “Because you are human. Live depressed but not depressed.
In an interview with a PAP journalist, she emphasized that depression is a serious brain disease. Its main symptoms are loss of energy and idleness, as well as tearfulness, drinking alcohol, isolation and neglect of duties. Alcohol – it is worth remembering – is only a temporary cure for depression and only temporarily improves your well-being.
Many people suffering from depression hide their illness and do not want to go to a specialist for help because it is perceived negatively in our society, just like other mental illnesses. If they visit a specialist, it is usually only in severe depression which is difficult to treat. This is especially what men do.
The attitude towards mentally ill people is a measure of the civilization progress of a given state and society. I am sorry to say that we, Poles, are backward in this respect – emphasizes prof. Heitzman.
He also points out that in Poland, unlike in Europe, expenditure on the treatment of mental disorders is falling. Despite the functioning of the National Mental Health Program, in recent years they have decreased from 3,7%. to about 3 percent
In Switzerland, public funds allocated to the treatment of mental disorders account for 12%, and the European average is 5-6%. We are at the end of our continent, apart from Albania – adds the specialist.
All over Europe, psychiatry is booming. The number of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic clinics is increasing. In Poland – emphasizes prof. Heitzman – patients have problems with access to specialist medical care, community care, as well as effective and modern therapies.
Zbigniew Wojtasiński (PAP)
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