WHO: 86 Million in South-East Asia hit by depression
Signs and symptoms of depression include disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, guilty feeling, low self-worth, feelings tired and lethargy.
Depression affects 86 million people in South-East Asia region, the WHO said on Thursday while lauding India for passing the Mental Healthcare Bill recently and asked nations to scale up mental health services quality.
Noting that depression can lead to suicide, which is the second highest cause of death among people of age group 15-29 years in the region, WHO’s South-East Asia regional director, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said depression-related health services must be made more accessible and of higher quality.
On the eve of World Health Day, Singh said if untreated, the most severe form of depression can lead to suicide and asked communities to openly talk about the syndrome to prevent hardships and precious lives being cut short by it.
The World Health Day this year focuses on depression, a condition involving persistent sadness or loss of interest or pleasure in things normally enjoyed.
One in four children in the age group of 13-15 years in India suffer from depression, which affects 86 million people in South-East Asia region. Signs and symptoms of depression include disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, guilty feeling, low self-worth, feelings tired and lethargy.