Depression is now the leading cause of illness around the world

Most complaints are often ignored, or not taken seriously. We still have to put up with people spouting entirely incorrect stereotypes and assumptions about people who are mentally ill.

Here’s another reminder to start taking mental illness seriously – and giving those struggling with depression the support they deserve.

This is according to the World Health Organisation, depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide.

With cases of depression have gone up by almost 20% in a decade, reaching 322million by 2015. If that isn’t proof that depression is something we need to take seriously, I have no idea what is.

The chief of WHO, Margaret Chan called the new figures a ‘wake-up call for all countries to rethink their approaches to mental health and to treat it with the urgency it deserves’.

She notes that even in the most developed countries, nearly half of people suffering from depression are not diagnosed and do not receive treatment. In less developed countries, that number goes up to between 80% and 90%.

That’s unacceptable.

WHO reckons that the reasons those with depression aren’t receiving the help they need come down to the difficulty in accessing treatment, as well as the silence and stigma around mental illness as a whole.

Investing in better treatment for depression, and breaking down the silence around the illness, will lower the number of suicides per year, save hundreds of thousands of lives, and make it okay to ask for help. And that’s a huge deal.

If, for some reason, human life and happiness isn’t convincing enough, there’s another reason for health leaders to start focusing on depression.

According to WHO, for every $1 invested in increasing depression and anxiety treatment, countries will get back $4 thanks to improved health and productivity.

So sort it out, world health leaders. For you and for us.