A healthy mind is the key to sustainable development
The journey towards inclusive prosperity must be accompanied by a renewed effort to end stigma against millions of patients afflicted by mental illnesses. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Whereas health is often understood in everyday conversation to mean ‘physical’ wellness, the drafters of the SDGs did well to avoid the pitfall by including ‘promotion of mental health and wellbeing’ in the third sustainable development goal.
- Moreover, a relationship exists between mental health and physical illnesses. A person who has diabetes with depression fares worse than one who has diabetes alone
- However, scientific research has shown that the various modes of treatment that often encompass physical, psychological and social interventions, do work.
In September 2015, the United Nations unveiled the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replacing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The successes and failures of the MDGs varied across different countries, so the SDGs have given nations a second chance to correct their past shortcomings. When one takes a look at the new blueprint, it is clear that African countries stand to gain the most from its timely implementation, simply because together with Asia, they house the largest number of poor people.
The SDGs need thorough digestion into units that policy makers and citizens will readily absorb. The agricultural expert, the entrepreneur and the health worker must, for instance, appreciate the connection between the SDGs and their respective sectors.
They must see their work as a necessary component of the lofty goals. This is best pursued at this early stage of the SDG implementation timetable. The primacy of health in the new goals is noticeable. In fact, all the 17 goals have a health component either directly or indirectly.
However, it is the third sustainable development goal that focuses on the need to promote good health and wellbeing for all at all ages. Part four of the same goal specifically talks about mental health. Experts have celebrated these inclusions of mental health components, that were missing in the MDGs,.
INCLUSIVE PROSPERITY
Whereas health is often understood in everyday conversation to mean ‘physical’ wellness, the drafters of the SDGs did well to avoid the pitfall by including ‘promotion of mental health and wellbeing’ in the third sustainable development goal. The goal further calls for national strategies that ‘strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic abuse and harmful use of alcohol.’
The direct inclusion of mental health in the sustainable development goals is of great importance because mental illness is only emerging from a past of severe stigmatisation.
The journey towards inclusive prosperity must be accompanied by a renewed effort to end stigma against millions of patients afflicted by mental illnesses. There are many indicators to show that the future of mental health will be more dignified than the past. The World Health Organisation (WHO) seems to be keen on this future. The World Health Day which commemorates the formation of WHO in 1948, is marked on April 7 every year. This year, the selected theme was ‘Depression, lets talk.’
This theme certainly opened a new front of interest in mental health in general, and depression in particular. Preventing and treating mental illnesses such as depression results in accelerated development. A mentally healthy citizen is able to study, form relationships and engage in work that contributes towards the economic growth of the community and nation. The direct result of economic growth at the individual and community level is poverty reduction.
Moreover, a relationship exists between mental health and physical illnesses. A person who has diabetes with depression fares worse than one who has diabetes alone. Therefore, by treating the depression in addition to the diabetes, life is not only prolonged, but its quality is vastly improved.
Research has shown that treating mental illness in patients with conditions such as cancer and HIV has tremendous impact on the quality of life for the patients, ranging from improved adherence to medication to a stronger immunity.
It is commendable that in the 2016 guidelines for prevention and treatment of HIV, the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) has included mental health components such as assessment and treatment of depression. Therefore, this is the prime time to talk about depression. It is known that as many as two thirds of people with depression do not realise that they have a treatable illness and therefore do not seek professional help.
FOGGY MYTHS
This paucity of knowledge does not, however, protect those affected by depression from the severe consequences of the disease. The gravest outcome of depression is suicide, the leading cause of death in young people aged 15-29 years. Suicide accounts for 800,000 deaths around the world, every year. Three out of four of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya.
The unfortunate misconception that mental illness has a spiritual origin either as a family curse, punishment for mistakes done or demon possession, often leads to unnecessary delay in seeking the correct interventions. Patients are brought to hospital only as a last resort after many, fruitless visits to spiritual healers.
However, scientific research has shown that the various modes of treatment that often encompass physical, psychological and social interventions, do work.
We must therefore shatter the foggy myths and superstitions that hinder access to the highest attainable standard of mental health.
It is clear that the economic returns of treating mental illnesses like depression are massive, while the consequences of ignoring that reality are dire. The connection between the promotion of mental health and the attainment of the sustainable development goals is obvious. In this regard, the choice of depression as the theme for this year’s World Health Day is laudable.
