Mind Magazine July 2017 Mind Magazine July 2017 | Page 3

Mind news
Mental health
in the media
Depression:
the biggest
cause of
ill health
In March this year, the World
Health Organization (WHO)
reported that depression is
now the biggest global cause
of ill health and disability.
More than 300 million people
are living with mental health
problems – an increase of
18% over the past decade.
Outgoing WHO Director General,
Dr Margaret Chan, said: ‘These
new figures are a wake-up call
for all countries to re-think their
approaches to mental health and
to treat it with the urgency that
it deserves.’
It’s estimated that anxiety and
depression account for one fifth of
all days off work – but the human
cost is even higher. Mental health
problems are still hugely linked to
stigma and discrimination, which
can have a devastating effect on
millions of lives.
Want to know more? Read more about depression on
our website at mind.org.uk/depression
Mind Magazine 3