Published in News
The burden of mental illness has been underestimated, in part, because the links between mental health and other health conditions are not well understood.
As the population grows and ages, more individuals live longer with physical NCDs (non-communicable diseases such as cardio vascular, diabetes, lifestyle related cancers, diabetes) and mental illness. These chronic conditions are related in complex ways. Major modifiable risk factors for NCD, such as poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol use, are exacerbated by poor mental health. Mental illness is a risk factor for NCDs; its presence increases the chance that an individual will also suffer from one or more chronic illnesses. In addition, individuals with mental health conditions are less likely to seek help for NCDs and symptoms may affect adherence to treatment as well as prognosis
GACD past chair Abdallah Daar, Management Committee member Christina Rabada-Diehl and Principal Investigator Adolfo Rubenstein make the case here.