The impact of social media: mental health problems have reached pandemic proportions
Mental health problems around the world have reached pandemic proportions. According to the WHO, depressive disorders alone have already been diagnosed in more than 280 million people - 4% of the population. In recent years, this figure has grown by a quarter. "Izvestia" found out what is associated with the growth of diseases and whether it can be stopped.
The scale of the pandemic
Mental health problems in the world have reached the scale of a pandemic. The Financial Times writes about this, citing several studies on the topic.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), about 12 billion working days are missed each year due to depression and anxiety of employees, which costs the world economy $1 trillion a year.
Globally, depression affects about 280 million people, or 4% of the population. As noted in the WHO, at least once in a lifetime such a condition experienced about 18-25% of women and 7-12% of men. At the same time, 6% of women and 3% of men even required treatment in hospital.
The results of surveys cited by the FT showed that mental illness is most common among people working in finance and insurance. The average annual cost due to mental health problems for one employee in finance and insurance is £5,379 (710,000 rubles).
"The scale of the problem, particularly among young people, is hugely worrying. We are being asked if we are not recording an increase in cases of mental illness simply because people have become more willing to report it. But the increase is so great that it cannot be denied that real changes are taking place," said Kate Pickett, professor of epidemiology at the University of York.
According to experts, the situation with people's mental health has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020-2021, the number of cases of depression worldwide increased by 25%.
Reasons for the growth
As Anna Korendyukhina, chief physician at the Mental Health Center, psychotherapist, explains to Izvestia, there are many factors that negatively affect a person's mental health. One of them is social networks.
- On the one hand, social media allows us to stay in touch with family and friends, but studies say it also negatively affects mental health. Risk factors include the tendency to compare oneself with others (not in one's favor, of course), cyberbullying, and fear of missing out," says the doctor.
Systematic reviews have shown that excessive time on social media is associated with anxiety, depression and high stress levels. Meanwhile, reducing social media use can have the opposite effect: college students who did so for three weeks experienced a decrease in feelings of loneliness.
Another reason for the rise in mental health disorders, according to the doctor, was the pandemic. People's anxiety and depression increased largely because of social isolation and the inability to work normally. Added to this was fear for loved ones, the danger of infection and financial problems.
- The pandemic has increased isolation, but isolation is also increasing in the general population. This is caused by societal trends - a decrease in involvement in social life, a decrease in the number of people getting married and having children," says the Izvestiya interlocutor.
According to the doctor, the elderly (they are more likely to face the loss of loved ones), young people and immigrants are at a higher risk of loneliness. One of the studies says that the loneliest in Western countries were residents aged 16 to 24 years old, and this was largely due to their fascination with the same social networks and spending time on the Internet.
The third risk factor noted by the doctor was economic instability and financial difficulties. Statistically, people with depression and debt are 4.2 times more likely to suffer from depression than people without financial difficulties. Also, people with loans are three times more likely to think about suicide.
The situation in Russia and the world
According to Anna Korendyukhina, in Russia today there is the same trend as in the whole world. According to the Ministry of Health, in 2023, a mental disorder was first diagnosed in 314.4 people per 100 thousand population. In 2020, this figure was noticeably lower - 262.
- Plus you need to take into account that the data on prevalence only from official sources on the fact of treatment in state structures. And most people receive treatment in private clinics or do not do it at all for many years, that is, we must realize that the official figures are greatly underestimated and do not reflect the real picture, - says the doctor.
As Maria Gridchik, a psychiatrist at the Federal Psychiatric Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Center of the Russian Federal Medical and Biological Agency, points out,depressive disorders hold the leading position among mental illnesses in Russia. Anxiety and panic disorders, specific phobias are no less common. The causes of depression are often the rapid pace of life and multitasking, which a person must cope with on a daily basis.
- People with a mild degree of depression often get used to living in a depressed state, which becomes the norm for them. However, if burnout, low mood, deterioration in appetite and sleep quality are observed over a long period of time, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Urgent help from a psychiatrist is required if it becomes difficult to establish contacts with other people, if suicidal thoughts appear, if one loses contact with society and loses orientation in one's own needs," says the psychiatrist.
According to the WHO, 5% of adults (4% of men and 6% of women) and 5.7% of people over 60 experience depression worldwide.
- Depression is about 50% more common among women than men. But this can be explained by the fact that men are reluctant to admit they are depressed and seek help. They often feel embarrassed or ashamed of their depression and just try to "tough it out". Sometimes they "take control" by "self-medicating" with alcohol or drugs. Perhaps this is why medical professionals often fail to recognize depression in men," Korendyukhina explains.
The doctor calls pregnant or recently given birth women a particularly vulnerable group: every tenth of them suffers from depression. And if it is not treated, there can be serious complications for moms, babies and the family as a whole.
- The most difficult time is six months after giving birth, but the onset of depression can occur any time from the beginning of pregnancy to two years after the baby is born. Symptoms include excessive worry, sadness, guilt, hopelessness, trouble sleeping, fatigue, loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, irritability and difficulty making decisions. These will last for three weeks or longer, " says the therapist.
Finally, the last group at risk is the elderly. Because of the many health problems seniors face, neither they nor their families recognize or notice symptoms of depression or mistake them for signs of other conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
- Depression in an elderly person can be accompanied by memory loss, confusion, irritability, decreased appetite, insomnia, and even hallucinations or strange ideas," says an interviewee of Izvestia.
The worst outcome of depression is suicide. It causes the death of more than 700 thousand people in the world every year.
Symptoms of depression
As Anna Korendyukhina explains, the symptoms of depression can be a constant feeling of hopelessness, despair and apathy. It is not just sadness in response to life's difficulties - the disease changes the way a person feels, thinks and functions.
- It interferes with the ability to work, learn, eat, sleep and enjoy life. Trying to get through the day can seem terrifying. Some people describe depression as a "black hole in the chest" or a sense of impending disaster, while others feel lifeless, empty and apathetic. Men, in particular, may experience anger and anxiety. Either way, no matter how the illness manifests itself, if left untreated - it can get worse, says the therapist.
In general, she explains, the signs of depression are different for everyone, but there are some common ones that occur in many patients. The most common are feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, a gloomy outlook ("nothing will ever get better, nothing can be fixed"), loss of interest in daily activities, hobbies, entertainment, social events or sex, loss of the ability to feel pleasure and joy, changes in appetite or weight (significant loss or gain), sleep disturbances (either insomnia or hypersomnia), anger or irritability.
- The disease may also be signaled by loss of energy - fatigue, lethargy, and physical exhaustion. The whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks seem exhausting or take longer. The person experiences self-loathing, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, problems with concentration, and decision making. He may have unexplained pains - headaches, back, muscle and stomach pains," says Anna Korendyukhina.
According to the doctor, depression can manifest itself differently in different groups of people. In children (more often it develops in adolescents, mostly girls) in behavior appear irritability or sadness, boredom, lack of interest in friends and games, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, a constant feeling of fatigue, self-criticism (the feeling that "no one likes me"), poor academic performance, inability to concentrate, thoughts of death.
- Teens may also become involved in dangerous relationships, shoplifting, physical fights, and substance abuse," adds Mental Health Center's chief medical officer.
Help for depression
When signs of depression, if they last more than two weeks and increase rather than decrease, affect work, interests, relationships, and give rise to thoughts of suicide or self-harm, it's important to see a doctor.
- Of course, it can be hard to imagine that treatment can help. But the sooner you seek help, the sooner your depression will recede. There are no physical tests for depression yet, but a doctor will be able to examine you and prescribe additional tests to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms, such as anemia or hypothyroidism," says Anna Korendyukhina.
The main method used to make a diagnosis is a clinical conversation. The doctor will ask the patient questions about his condition and how it affects daily life - mentally and physically. He or she may also ask about medical history, previous mental health issues, home environment and lifestyle, and any recent triggers that may have affected the condition.
According to a psychotherapist, depression, like other disorders, can be prevented. One way is through psychotherapy, where you can learn how to manage stress. There is also evidence that proper diet and exercise protect against depression and other mental illnesses.
- The most evidence has accumulated regarding the Mediterranean diet, consisting of whole grains, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, fish, low-fat dairy products and antioxidants, which leads to a 32% reduction in the risk of depression. A possible explanation is their positive effect on gut health, which is linked to brain function, says the psychotherapist.
Some nutritional supplements can also be beneficial, in particular vitamins D, B6 and B12, in addition to zinc, folic acid and iron. However, they should only be used in case of deficiency, and a doctor should be consulted beforehand.
- Exercise also affects mental health by increasing the level of endorphins - mood regulators. You should exercise for at least 30-35minutes three to five times a week. Interestingly, exercise also increases the tolerance of antidepressants from the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs," concludes the Izvestia interviewee.
