Turkey's Mental Health Is Not Good!

• What is Turkey's "psychiatric situation"?

It has been known for a long time that psychiatric diseases are quite common in Turkey, as well as all over the world. One in every 5 people in Turkey suffers from a psychiatric illness, and a significant portion of these people do not receive treatment or are exposed to inappropriate methods for treatment. Predictions that psychiatric diseases will increase over time are confirmed every year. According to the data of the World Health Organization, depression has increased by 18% worldwide in the last 10 years. Approximately one in every twenty people in Turkey currently experiences depression. A similar number of people suffer from anxiety disorder.

Psychiatric diseases rank second among the diseases that disrupt the individual's effectiveness in daily life and relationships. Although psychiatric diseases, which are so common and can be so devastating, can be treated, very few people can access effective treatments.

• Why Are the Numbers Increasing?

Social, psychological and biological factors play a role together in psychiatric diseases. The increase in the incidence of general medical diseases, terrorism and social traumas, migration, unemployment, increased rates of alcohol and substance use, poverty, and concerns about a safe and secure life are among the reasons for the increase in psychiatric diseases.

• What Do the Numbers Say in Turkey, Region by Region?

Although there are studies conducted specifically for some cities in Turkey, there is no current scientific data on the rates of psychiatric diseases by region. In addition, the prevalence of mental illness is higher in people living in cities than in those living in towns and villages.

• In which age range is it most common?

Psychiatric diseases can be seen at any age. It varies with the age at which the disease occurs. For example, depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders mostly begin after the age of 25. After the age of 45, the incidence of depression increases with the addition of medical diseases. Schizophrenia and alcohol substance use disorders These occur mostly in the 20s.

• What are the suicide rates?

1.8% of all deaths in the world. It occurs as a result of suicide. Suicide rates are increasing in parallel with psychiatric diseases. For example, in our country it has increased by 50% in the last 40 years. In Turkey, 4 out of every 100,000 people die by suicide in a year. Suicides are most common among young people between the ages of 15-24. It seems that the second cause of death for individuals in this age group is suicide.

People naturally cannot make sense of suicide and have difficulty in giving it meaning. After people commit suicide, we always wonder why these people commit suicide. However, the reasons behind suicides are scientifically clear. Approximately 95% of all patients who attempt or commit suicide have a diagnosis of mental illness. About 80 percent of this figure is depression and bipolar disorder, 10 percent is schizophrenia, and 5 percent is dementia or delirium, commonly called dementia. Stress factors associated with suicide, which are often associated with these diseases, are; separation, rejection, illness stress, unemployment and legal problems. It is known that in countries where news about suicide is published in the media, giving the news in a romantic way increases suicide rates by encouraging suicide or presenting it as a solution.

• Relationship between Addiction and Depression What are the Figures Average?


Depression and alcohol/substance addiction are common diseases and the rate of co-occurrence is quite high. When they accompany each other, the severity of the disease increases and worsens. Moreover, when these two occur together, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders and other diseases are also added to the picture. Approximately 80% of alcohol-dependent men and women have depressive symptoms, and at least one-third of these patients also have diagnosed depression. Similarly, depression rates are very high in substance addicts. If a person has addiction and depression together, the risk of suicide increases much more than if there is only depression or only addiction.

• How is Drug Consumption and How Much is the Average?

Antidepressant usage rates in Turkey are increasing every year. On average, one in every 10 people uses antidepressants. This increase is not a phenomenon that can be explained by the increase in psychiatric diseases. It should be emphasized that antidepressants are not only used for depression and anxiety disorders. It is also used effectively in many diseases such as migraine, other headaches and fibromyalgia. Additionally, very few antidepressants, approximately 10%, are prescribed by psychiatrists. Many people with psychiatric illnesses may prefer to consult other physicians instead of psychiatrists due to concerns about stigma.

• What Should Be Done Against Depression?

Depression is becoming more common. To prevent this, first of all, preventive primary health care services and mental health services must be combined. In other words, physical development and home visit studies carried out within the scope of primary health care should be integrated with the physical health of pregnant women, babies and children, as well as their psychological and social development. In addition, in order to recognize depression and other psychiatric disorders, informative activities should be carried out in educational institutions and in the media to raise awareness. This is very important in terms of minimizing mental disorders and addressing health services with a holistic approach by providing early diagnosis and treatment services, but unfortunately the current situation in our country seems to be far from this.

In addition, measures to reduce violence in society are needed. It is very critical for the mental health of the society that the laws be adopted and implemented more fairly and meticulously. Initiatives should be taken to reduce discourses that legitimize and glorify violence in the public sphere. It is especially essential to reduce violence and restrictions against women. Of course, all of this goes beyond the individual level to some extent. Issues that fall under the responsibility of social structures and the state.

It is very important for individuals to apply to the appropriate place, that is, to competent people, especially for treatment. Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about this in our country. Having mental health problems People are undecided about where to apply. There is some truth in this, because the press and TV give a lot of space to unscientific statements about mental illnesses by incompetent people. Opinions should be sought from professionals instead of people unrelated to mental health who use these discourses that serve to stigmatize and mislead people.

For example, unscientific discourses such as antidepressants are addictive, attention deficit and hyperactivity are not diseases, etc. It should not be placed in public spaces. Incompetent people say in the media and in public that they easily cure diseases. People may choose these incompetent people due to fear of stigma and confusion.

In our country, only psychiatrists are authorized by law to examine and treat psychiatric diseases. Therefore, incompetent people can continue their work due to insufficient supervision and openly advertise in places such as subways, public buses and on websites. 'life coach','NLP specialist', 'consultancy center', 'breathing therapist', 'breathing therapist', other than those who are not psychiatrists strong> etc. A mental health law needs to be passed to prevent people who practice under the name of trying to treat mental illnesses. For this purpose, the Turkish Psychiatric Association, the Turkish Psychologists Association and the Ministry of Health are carrying out various studies together.

We know that there are tens of thousands of depressed people who do not receive help or use medication.

• What What do you suggest should be done? What are your general evaluations?

In this regard, it should be emphasized again that depression is different from an ordinary period of unhappiness. This is important in this respect. Sports, exercise, communicating more with loved ones, being aware of negative experiences and being at peace with them, focusing on the positive aspects of life, paying more attention to your body and being aware of your body, saying no to things you don't want, setting limits on people, etc. Suggestions such as these can be useful in people's unhappy times and even in mild depression. But clinically These suggestions or obtaining information about them are often useless in people with depression. People may even feel more worthless, saying 'I couldn't do this either'. Depression and many other mental illnesses impair not only emotions but also thinking abilities. Therefore, it is very important for people with mental problems and illnesses and their family relatives to avoid contacting people other than mental health professionals defined in the law and regulation.
 

 

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