2023-12-28 17:00:36
Even in the year 2022, 2 out of every 10 Mexicans have depression or have symptoms. Mental health has been one of the most forgotten and prioritized spectrums by society and public policy.
With the arrival of the pandemic, the increasing trend in the prevalence of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems was exposed. Likewise, the suicide deaths They have also reached their maximum levels.
In 2020, in the midst of the health and economic crisis, the prevalence of depression in Mexico grew 71 percent compared to 2019 levels, according to OECD estimates in its “Health at a Glance 2023” report.
In the post-pandemic era, levels of depression and anxiety have decreased
With the arrival of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the prevalence of anxiety escalated to occur in 5 out of 10 people. Although the prevalence of these mental health conditions was reduced in 2021 and 2022, 2 in 10 people (17%) still suffer from depression or face symptoms of depression.
Although it is true that in the post-pandemic era, levels of anxiety and depression have decreased, cases of death by suicide continue to register a growing trend.
For example, in 2020, 7,896 deaths from suicide were recorded and by 2022, the record rose to 8,239 cases. In the last decade alone, the number of suicide cases has increased by around 50 percent.
It can also be noted that while the majority of official diagnoses of depression and anxiety occur in adults, almost all suicides occur in the population groups younger.
Work stress is one of the risk factors
Taking into account the OECD document, the data suggests that a global trend was the unprecedented increase in mental illnesses as a consequence of the Mass hysteria due to the COVID-19 crisis. Subsequently, an improvement in these levels is observed in line with the improvement of the pandemic situation.
But, despite this, a full recovery has not yet been achieved and the prevalence of mental health problems is high, both in Mexico and in a large part of the OECD countries. On average for the OECD group, the prevalence of depression and anxiety is 20 percent higher than before the pandemic.
Some of the factors that have been identified as enhancing distress in the population were the increase in the cost of living and the geopolitical tensions. Other risk factors are social isolation, substance abuse and school abuse, as well as work stress.
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