‘Depression rising alarmingly in Pakistan's urban areas’

‘Depression rising alarmingly in Pakistan's urban areas’

Adil Ali   07 April

KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association on Thursday said depression in the country was much higher than the world average while its incidence was alarmingly greater in urban centres than rural districts.

Declaring ‘Depression’ the theme of World Health Day this year, the PMA said mental problems in the country were growing, particularly in big cities.

“Around 35.7 per cent citizens of Karachi are affected with mental illness, while 43pc people in Quetta and 53.4pc in Lahore are also affected,” said Dr Qaisar Sajjad, secretary general of the PMA in a statement.

Globally, said the PMA, depression affected 20pc of people while in Pakistan it was more serious with an estimated 34pc of the population suffering from it.

“Both genetic and environmental factors play chiefly in its pathogenesis.”

World Health Day will be observed today (Friday) across the world.

The PMA said it took it as an opportunity to highlight the issue and create awareness of the disease among the people of Pakistan.

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how one feels and the way one thinks and how one acts. “Fortunately, it is also treatable,” said the PMA official.

“Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities one enjoyed once. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.”

Dr Sajjad said a number of factors could augment the chance of depression. Past physical, sexual, or emotional abuse could cause depression later in life; and certain medications could increase risk of depression.

“Depression may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family members or friends. A family history of depression may increase the risk. Even good events such as starting a new job, graduating, or getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income, getting divorced, or retiring. Problems such as social isolation due to other mental illnesses or being cast out of a family or social group can lead to depression.”

He said depression affected the cities here more, which was in conformity with what was happening in the rest of the world’s cities, as the urban life alienated a person more than rural settings.

“Apart from these causes, power shortages, non-availability of potable water, unemployment, traffic jams, intolerance, insecurity, and law and order situation are also factors which increase depression day by day in our society.

“Even the way our channels broadcast breaking news increases depression.”

Experts said depression symptoms could vary from mild to severe and included feeling sad or having a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite (weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting), trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, loss of energy or increased fatigue, increase in aimless physical activity [hand-wringing or pacing] or slowed movements and speech [actions observable by others], feeling worthless or guilty, difficulty in thinking, concentrating or making decisions, and thinking about death or committing suicide.

Prof S. Haroon Ahmed said the prevalence of depressive disorder in Pakistan was more than 40pc with women accounting for 57.5pc while more than a quarter of men in the country were depressed.

The PMA said as depression was the root cause of many mental disorders and sickness, there was a need to develop a policy to tackle anxiety and depressive disorders on a national scale.

“Steps need to be taken to overcome the dearth of qualified psychiatrists in the country.”

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2017

Watching birds near your home is good for your mental health

Watching birds near your home is good for your mental health

Adil Ali   19 March

Watching birds near your home is good for your mental health

People living in neighbourhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress, according to research by academics at the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland.

The study, involving hundreds of people, found benefits for mental health of being able to see birds, shrubs and trees around the home, whether people lived in urban or more leafy suburban neighbourhoods.

The study, which surveyed mental health in over 270 people from different ages, incomes and ethnicities, also found that those who spent less time out of doors than usual in the previous week were more likely to report they were anxious or depressed.

After conducting extensive surveys of the number of birds in the morning and afternoon in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Luton, the study found that lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress were associated with the number of birds people could see in the afternoon. The academics studied afternoon bird numbers - which tend to be lower than birds generally seen in the morning – because they are more in keeping with the number of birds that people are likely to see in their neighbourhood on a daily basis.



In the study, common types of birds including blackbirds, robins, blue tits and crows were seen. But the study did not find a relationship between the species of birds and mental health, but rather the number of birds they could see from their windows, in the garden or in their neighbourhood.

Previous studies have found that the ability of most people to identify different species is low (eg Dallimer et al, 2012), suggesting that for most people it is interacting with birds, not just specific birds, that provides well-being.

University of Exeter research fellow Dr Daniel Cox, who led the study, said: "This study starts to unpick the role that some key components of nature play for our mental well-being".

Birds around the home, and nature in general, show great promise in preventative health care, making cities healthier, happier places to live".

The positive association between birds, shrubs and trees and better mental health applied, even after controlling for variation in neighbourhood deprivation, household income, age and a wide range of other socio-demographic factors.

Recent research by Dr Cox and Professor Kevin Gaston, who are based at the Environmental Sustainability Institute at the Penryn Campus at the University of Exeter, found that watching birds makes people feel relaxed and connected to nature (Cox and Gaston, 2016).

The research is published in the journal Bioscience and was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council as conducted as part of the Fragments, Functions, Flows and Ecosystem Services project.

Courtesy: Exeter UK 

Photograph: FreePik

Cancer Patients With Depression Have Resources

Cancer Patients With Depression Have Resources

Adil Ali   25 January

Cancer patients who experience depression can use both therapy and lifestyle tools to help support their mental health, according to a new patient resource from the JAMA Oncology journal.

People with cancer, as well as their doctors, need to remember that mental health is as important as physical health for these patients, the authors note.

“Understandably, cancer treatment is primarily focused on obtaining medical remission,” said Rachel Roos Pokorney, a therapist based in New York City who co-wrote the one-page primer intended for patients.

The page is based on recommendations given by the American Cancer Society and the National Institute of Mental Health.

“There is still an unfortunate lack of awareness about the importance of treating the mental along with the physical, both in general and in regards to cancer patients,” she told Reuters Health.

The patient resource explains that physical changes, limitations from symptoms and treatment and uncertainty about the future all put cancer patients at risk for depression.

But nontherapeutic tools, such as physical activity, a healthy diet, and a strong social network can help the body, improve mood and reduce stress, the authors write.

“There is a basic connection that the mind and body have that is very important to remember,” Pokorney said. “It is of the utmost importance to always take care of your mind by taking care of your body, and vice versa. This is especially important for cancer patients.”

Therapeutic tools, such as medication, support groups and individual therapy, can help as well. In fact, social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists are becoming more involved with cancer-based care in recent years, she said.

“As cancer treatment advances, there are more cancer survivors who are in need of long-term care, which is no longer limited to physical symptoms,” said Gleneara Bates of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, who co-authored the patient page with Pokorney.

“The emotional burden of cancer has real-life effects on not just patients but their primary caregivers and family members,” she told Reuters Health by email. “Cancer has historically been seen as an ‘old man’s disease,’ and this is no longer the case.”

Bates and Pokorney note that using cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy to help patients identify and manage their emotions and thoughts to improve depressive symptoms is gaining support - both as a result of evidence-based studies and the rising mindfulness trend.

“Treatment for cancer-related depression is not one-size-fits-all,” Bates said. “Patients and health care providers should discuss all aspects of mental health to find the best combination.”

Cancer patients may often experience depressive symptoms after treatment has ended, said Dr Lynne Padgett, strategic director of hospital systems for the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Patients may experience symptoms when everything should be ‘OK’ because of the long-lasting effects of cancer and the treatments,” Dr Padgett, who was not involved in the patient resource, told Reuters Health. “The symptoms are often not classical and don’t meet the criteria for a depression diagnosis.”

The Commission on Cancer, an accreditation group that is part of the American College of Surgeons and issues guidelines for cancer care, expanded its emphasis on treating psychosocial distress and mental health in a 2015 guideline update. Since then, cancer centres have stepped up their assessments of mental health, she said.

Courtesy: Jama Network via Reuters