2 million Greeks suffer from depression

Depression rates in the Greek population are increasing dramatically due to the ongoing economic crisis, combined with the uncertain future and general insecurity, threatening his physical health. In the country it is estimated that 25% of men and 33% of women (approximately 850.000 Greeks and 1,1 million Greek women) suffer from mild to severe depression.

According to experts, the economic crisis is nowadays the main cause of the increase in cases of depression, worldwide. The disease affects an estimated 350 million people, and according to a recent global mental health survey in 17 countries, about 1 in 20 people reported having a depressive episode last year.

The disease can affect people from all walks of life and in some severe cases can lead to suicide, experts say. Each year around the world, about 1 million lives are lost due to suicide, which translates into about 3.000 deaths on a daily basis.

The above was stressed during a press conference on the occasion of the 18th Panhellenic Conference of Internal Medicine (October 18 - 20, in Athens), Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Athens, Charalambos Papageorgiou.

According to the World Health Organization, by 2020 depression will be the second leading cause of incapacity for work and by 2030 the first, unless drastic measures are taken to address it.

As Mr. Papageorgiou said, the immediate fight against depression through effective prevention and treatment strategies, with the cooperation of both the Mental Health Services and the whole society, is an urgent need today.

The physical and mental health of Greeks is at a "critical crossroads", according to the president of the Hellenic Society of Internal Medicine (EEEP), professor of Pathology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes at the Universities of Athens and Ulm Germany, Sotiris Raptis, "The 'killers' of the human species continue their action relentlessly." Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 40% - 45% of deaths both in our country and internationally, followed by neoplastic diseases, which are responsible for about 1/3 of deaths worldwide.

Also, the last 20 years have seen a rapid increase in the number of people with diabetes.

In the country they are estimated at 1.200.000, ie about 12% of the general population, while internationally they exceed 300 million.

The most worrying, said Mr. Raptis, is that this "explosion" is expected to continue in the coming years, as by 2025 the total number of people with diabetes is estimated to have reached 600 million.

Of particular concern in our country, however, is the increase in people with type 1 diabetes. It is a diabetes that occurs in young people up to 18 years of age and, mainly, in preschool and school children.

Regarding type 2 diabetes, 95% of the 1.200.000 people with diabetes in our country have type 2 diabetes, while in the "queue", said Mr. Raptis, another 200.000 people are waiting with its disorder. glucose tolerance. About 70% of them will develop overt diabetes within five years if they do not change their current lifestyle in a timely and effective manner.

Source: Newsbeast.gr