United Nations ATOP Joins CoNGO Committee on Mental Health

United Nations ATOP Joins CoNGO Committee on Mental Health
A Report on September 2011 Meeting
Katherine Kaze

The United Nations CoNGO Committee on Mental Health and the Health Committee met in collaboration on 8th September in the UN Center to present a symposium on “The Global Challenge of chronic Disease: Interaction of Physical and Mental Illnesses.” Presentations maintained the relevance of mental illnesses as contributors to physical malaise, and stressed the importance of connecting such studies to teachings in the field of medicine. UN Representative Katherine Kaze, of the Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention of Meaningfulworld, was present pursuant to the psycho social interests of the organization. ATOP of Meaningfulworld has long shown support for the Mental Health Committee, participating as early as its first meeting.

The panel consisted of four distinguished speakers. Dr. James J Strain, MD, spoke about the connection between depression and disease, specifically cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer. He maintained that depression travels with other physical illnesses, affecting the individual’s desire to libido, energy levels, eating and sleeping patterns, as well as emotional traits. These physical symptoms are often present with disease. Statistics showed that 15 to 20% of all individuals in the US with forms of heart disease also reported depression. Depression was proven to be a risk factor for heart disease, with almost the same relative risk as smoking. As described by Strain, in depressed patients ACTH travels to the adrenal gland, which activates more platelets in the blood, thus disturbing the regular flow of blood to the heart. Dr. Strain stressed the importance of looking at mental illness as a systemic illness and a part of medicine. In support of his suggestion, he cited a scientific statement by American Heart Association in September 2008 has said every patient in coronary care should be assessed for depression. His hypothesis predicts similar findings for related psychological conditions, such as anxiety.

Dr. Deborah Chyun, PhD, concurred with Dr. Strain, choosing instead to focus on causes and prevention of illness. She noted that the most common risk factors for chronic disease are drug use, infectious agents, genetic agents, and psychosocial factors. In her study, psychosocial factors contributed the most to heart disease. The psychosocial factor of aggression was shown to especially contribute to a heart disease. Dr. Chyun recommended a population based strategy of health promotion, not just one which gears to individuals at risk. She stressed the need for a multi-factorial approach, and cited how chronic illnesses cause a loss of income in developing countries such as Russia and China, estimated up to 1 trillion US Dollars.

Board certified Dr. Edward Huey, MD, led a presentation relating neural diseases to cardiovascular health. Following his speech, Dr. Gail Melkus, EdD, spoke specifically about the relation between neural disorders and diabetes, another prevalent illness around the world. Dr. Melkus reported that at least 60% of people with diabetes have reported depressive symptoms at some point in their lives. This example cited the reverse of the hypotheses of her colleagues, suggesting that depression was caused by the physical problem, not vice versa. Diabetes, which causes weight gain, causes lower self-esteem and possibly depression.

The purpose of the symposium was to stress the interconnectedness of mental and physical health. The speakers present at the UN Church Center sought to drive home that mental illness must be assessed along with physical disorders. The statistics provoked enthusiastic reception, and evidenced that the present argument was a valid concern for the health community at large. ATOP of Meaningfulworld is in agreement with presented statistics, which reaffirm the notion that psycho social factors ultimately have bearing on physical symptoms. Physical experience is certainly accompanied by mental reflection, and by healing one, we help promote the wellness of the other. An active, healthy lifestyle can surely benefit from a positive social environment and communication with the individual.

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