Report: Mental health disorders now leading cause of disability

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The mental health problems of the pandemic are now spreading worldwide, according to a new report. The World Health Organization now says mental health disorders are the leading cause of disability.

In just the first year of the pandemic, depression and anxiety jumped 25%. Young people, women and those who have previously had a mental health concern are likely to be feeling this the worst according to this new WHO World Mental Health report.

The report said those with mental health concerns were also hit harder by COVID-19, as well as the isolation and restrictions that followed. It magnified mental health concerns prior to the pandemic, such as child sexual abuse and bullying. These were listed in the report as common causes of depression.

Since wait times are long right now for most mental health counselors, many primary care doctors have started offering counseling by professionals inside their own offices.

Adolescent medicine specialist Joe Bailey from TriHealth said if you are struggling with any mental health concern, tell your primary care doctor.

"The primary care physician, which includes pediatrician, family practice physicians, internal medicine doctors, all are front line for mental health illness. A patient can be evaluated, we can determine what type of mental health issues we are having and, first and foremost, we need to determine: Is this patient safe? Is this patient safe to go home?" Bailey said.

Your primary care doctor can prescribe medications for depression, anxiety or any other concern. You don't have to wait to see a specialist if you're in crisis.

"Quite often, more often than not, a patient does not need to go on to see a psychiatrist. They don't need to go to the emergency room. We can take care of it right here in our office," Bailey said.

Part of the reason health care providers want us to address this concern at the doctor's office: 1 in 20 suicide attempts leads to death. Those now account overall for 1 in every 100 deaths.