WHO’s World Mental Health Report says that mental health is the leading cause of disability. What are the signs and how can we keep ourselves safe? Hello, I’m Vismita Gupta-Smith, welcome to Science in 5. We are talking to Dr. Mark Van Ommeren. Welcome, Mark. Mark, tell us about this WHO report that says that mental health is a leading cause for disability, explain that to us.

WHO does advanced calculations in coming up with a conclusion like that. And these calculations, they include a number of different sources of information. One of them is that for an individual, when they have a mental health condition such as depression, it's actually very impairing. So many workplaces, the leading cause for people not being at work for sickness leave is because of mental health conditions, although that's often not said. Similarly, these conditions are very common.

In fact, they start off in the teenage years, in adolescent years, and largely they are untreated. Indeed, only less than one in three people around the world are getting care, mental health care for their mental health condition. 

Mark, speak to us about how the pandemic has impacted our mental health and also how can we recognize these signs in ourselves or in our loved ones?

The pandemic has been, as you can imagine, very hard on people's lives, and it has really shone a light on mental health. The rates have gone up first year of the pandemic for anxiety and depression, about 25%, meaning that about 25% more people than before had depression or anxiety, which is enormous. And for suicide, we didn't see the rates go up which is good news. But we are carefully monitoring that. In terms of people with pre-existing severe mental illness, they were more likely to catch the virus and more likely to be severely ill from the virus and in fact, even more likely to die from the virus.

These are facts that are very important and have not been highlighted enough. In terms of your own mental health. If you find yourself to have persistent anxiety, which you didn't have before, persistent sadness or depression or a sad mood that you didn't have before, or drinking more alcohol. Or having lost pleasure and interest in things that you used to like, then these are concerns. And you need to take action to either seek help or to learn about how to manage these.

So, Mark, tell us, what can people do to keep themselves mentally healthy?

To stay mentally healthy, one can do a number of things. One of the things that one can do and should do, is to stay physically active. It's important for health and physical health. Second thing that's very important to do is to avoid alcohol. Alcohol is often used by people to think that they would be mentally feeling better, but actually it makes mental problems more complex and more difficult to overcome. Thirdly, one should do every day something that is either enjoyable or meaningful.

If enjoyable, could be talking to a friend or go for a walk. And finally, one can manage, one can practise stress management techniques such as mindfulness, which is increasingly popular and is evidence-based. If you develop a mental health problem and these tips are not enough, then it will be important to seek help, preferably from a health professional. But let's say there is no trusted health professional in your community. Then at least talk to a trusted person in your community, maybe a friend or another person that you think is worth discussing with, to have them listen to you and perhaps get their feedback on how you can deal with your difficulties. 

Also, what can be helpful is self-help. There are a number of self-help books out there and self-help materials online. When they are based on what is called cognitive-behavioural therapy, then they're usually very good.

Thank you, Mark. Here's wishing you all good mental health. Until next time then. Stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.

1. disability n. a physical or mental condition that means you cannot use a part of your body completely or easily, or that you cannot learn easily （某种）缺陷，障碍。例如：a physical / mental disability生理缺陷；心理障碍

2. depression n. a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious and often has physical symptoms such as being unable to sleep, etc. 抑郁症；精神忧郁。例如：clinical depression临床抑郁症

3. impair v. (formal) to damage sth. or make sth. worse 损害；削弱

WHO’s World Mental Health Report says that (Q1) _____________ is the leading cause of disability. What are the signs and how can we keep ourselves safe? Hello, I’m Vismita Gupta-Smith, welcome to Science in 5. We are talking to Dr. Mark Van Ommeren. Welcome, Mark. Mark, tell us about this WHO report that says that mental health is a leading cause for disability, explain that to us.

WHO does advanced calculations in coming up with a conclusion like that. And these calculations, they include a number of different sources of information. One of them is that for an individual, when they have a mental health condition such as (Q2) ______________, it's actually very impairing. So many workplaces, the leading cause for people not being at work for (Q3) _____________ is because of mental health conditions, although that's often not said. Similarly, these conditions are very common.

In fact, they start off in the teenage years, in (Q4) ______________ years, and largely they are untreated. Indeed, only less than one in three people around the world are getting care, mental health care for their mental health condition. 

Mark, speak to us about how the pandemic has impacted our mental health and also how can we recognize these signs in ourselves or in our loved ones?

The pandemic has been, as you can imagine, very hard on people's lives, and it has really shone a light on mental health. The rates have gone up first year of the pandemic for anxiety and depression, about 25%, meaning that about 25% more people than before had (Q5) __________________, which is enormous. And for (Q6) ____________, we didn't see the rates go up which is good news. But we are carefully monitoring that. In terms of people with pre-existing severe mental illness, they were more likely to catch the virus and more likely to be severely ill from the virus and in fact, even more likely to die from the virus.

These are facts that are very important and have not been highlighted enough. In terms of your own mental health. If you find yourself to have persistent anxiety, which you didn't have before, persistent sadness or depression or a sad mood that you didn't have before, or drinking more alcohol. Or having lost pleasure and interest in things that you used to like, then these are concerns. And you need to take action to either (Q7) ___________ or to learn about how to manage these.

So, Mark, tell us, what can people do to keep themselves mentally healthy?

To stay mentally healthy, one can do a number of things. One of the things that one can do and should do, is to (Q8) ______________________. It's important for health and physical health. Second thing that's very important to do is to (Q9) _______________. Alcohol is often used by people to think that they would be mentally feeling better, but actually it makes mental problems more complex and more difficult to overcome. Thirdly, one should do every day something that is (Q10) _____________________________.

If enjoyable, could be talking to a friend or go for a walk. And finally, one can manage, one can (Q11) ____________________ such as mindfulness, which is increasingly popular and is evidence-based. If you develop a mental health problem and these tips are not enough, then it will be important to seek help, preferably from (Q12) ___________________. But let's say there is no trusted health professional in your community. Then at least talk to (Q13) __________________ in your community, maybe a friend or another person that you think is worth discussing with, to have them listen to you and perhaps get their feedback on how you can deal with your difficulties. 

Also, what can be helpful is (Q14) __________. There are a number of self-help books out there and self-help materials online. When they are based on what is called cognitive-behavioural (Q15) _______________, then they're usually very good.

Thank you, Mark. Here's wishing you all good mental health. Until next time then. Stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.

WHO’s World Mental Health Report says that (Q1) mental health is the leading cause of disability. What are the signs and how can we keep ourselves safe? Hello, I’m Vismita Gupta-Smith, welcome to Science in 5. We are talking to Dr. Mark Van Ommeren. Welcome, Mark. Mark, tell us about this WHO report that says that mental health is a leading cause for disability, explain that to us.

WHO does advanced calculations in coming up with a conclusion like that. And these calculations, they include a number of different sources of information. One of them is that for an individual, when they have a mental health condition such as (Q2) depression, it's actually very impairing. So many workplaces, the leading cause for people not being at work for (Q3) sickness leave is because of mental health conditions, although that's often not said. Similarly, these conditions are very common.

In fact, they start off in the teenage years, in (Q4) adolescent years, and largely they are untreated. Indeed, only less than one in three people around the world are getting care, mental health care for their mental health condition. 

Mark, speak to us about how the pandemic has impacted our mental health and also how can we recognize these signs in ourselves or in our loved ones?

The pandemic has been, as you can imagine, very hard on people's lives, and it has really shone a light on mental health. The rates have gone up first year of the pandemic for anxiety and depression, about 25%, meaning that about 25% more people than before had (Q5) depression or anxiety, which is enormous. And for (Q6) suicide, we didn't see the rates go up which is good news. But we are carefully monitoring that. In terms of people with pre-existing severe mental illness, they were more likely to catch the virus and more likely to be severely ill from the virus and in fact, even more likely to die from the virus.

These are facts that are very important and have not been highlighted enough. In terms of your own mental health. If you find yourself to have persistent anxiety, which you didn't have before, persistent sadness or depression or a sad mood that you didn't have before, or drinking more alcohol. Or having lost pleasure and interest in things that you used to like, then these are concerns. And you need to take action to either (Q7) seek help or to learn about how to manage these.

So, Mark, tell us, what can people do to keep themselves mentally healthy?

To stay mentally healthy, one can do a number of things. One of the things that one can do and should do, is to (Q8) stay physically active. It's important for health and physical health. Second thing that's very important to do is to (Q9) avoid alcohol. Alcohol is often used by people to think that they would be mentally feeling better, but actually it makes mental problems more complex and more difficult to overcome. Thirdly, one should do every day something that is (Q10) either enjoyable or meaningful.

If enjoyable, could be talking to a friend or go for a walk. And finally, one can manage, one can (Q11) practise stress management techniques such as mindfulness, which is increasingly popular and is evidence-based. If you develop a mental health problem and these tips are not enough, then it will be important to seek help, preferably from (Q12) a health professional. But let's say there is no trusted health professional in your community.Then at least talk to (Q13) a trusted person in your community, maybe a friend or another person that you think is worth discussing with, to have them listen to you and perhaps get their feedback on how you can deal with your difficulties.

Also, what can be helpful is (Q14) self-help. There are a number of self-help books out there and self-help materials online. When they are based on what is called cognitive-behavioural (Q15) therapy, then they're usually very good.

Thank you, Mark. Here's wishing you all good mental health. Until next time then. Stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.