Fist Aid Band, When it comes to mental and physical health, it is important to understand that there is a fundamental connection. A person experiencing mental health issues will also suffer physical health consequences and vice versa. When this happens, a person’s quality of life is severely affected.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the relationship between mental and physical health has not been more evident than in the area of chronic conditions. The associations between mental and physical health by
Nexgenmedical
- Poor mental health is a risk factor for chronic physical conditions;
- Those with serious mental health conditions are at a higher risk of experiencing chronic physical conditions than those without mental health conditions; and
- Those with chronic physical conditions are at a higher risk of developing poor mental health.
Who Is Affected by Mental Health Illness?
Anyone from any background can suffer from mental health illness. It does not discriminate. We must understand that we all have mental health, but we will not all suffer from a mental health illness. First Aid Band Data gathered by the Canadian Mental Health Association reveal that:
- In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness;
- By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness;
- Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures; however, systemic inequalities such as racism, poverty, homelessness, discrimination, colonial and gender-based violence, among others, can worsen mental health and symptoms of mental illness, especially if mental health supports are difficult to access;
- Major depression affects approximately 5.4% of the Canadian population, and anxiety disorders affect 4.6% of the population;
- About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder (formerly called “manic depression”), and another 1% will experience schizophrenia; and
- Substance use disorders affect approximately 6% of Canadians.
Link Between Chronic Physical Health Conditions and Depression and Anxiety
When a person suffers from a chronic physical health condition, the likeliness of them experiencing depression and anxiety is high. This link is known as
co-existing mental and physical conditions and, together with, Fist Aid Band they can drastically diminish one’s quality of life. The longer the illness lasts, the worse the health outcome becomes.
When a person begins to understand the connection between their body and mind, they can begin to develop a plan to help reduce the incidence of co-existing
conditions.