NCRI – Iran’s Health Minister said in the past 26 years that the number of people suffering from depression has doubled.
“The people are victims of wrong decisions made by a number of policymakers and what we see today is unfortunately in a path of hopelessness,” Hassan Ghazizadeh said on Sunday at a World Health Day event.
“Issues such as unemployment, losing loved ones, road accidents and excessive use of narcotics have resulted in an increasing number of psychological disorders and depression,” he added.
“Young men and women, even juveniles, at times suffer from depression in life, and our society is currently full of these problems. But unfortunately, politicians close their eyes to such issues and only add to the problems. Women at the age of pregnancy and those in the early months of their pregnancy, as well as people over the age of 60 are amongst the most vulnerable of groups,” Ghazizadeh continued.
“Our problems regarding depression and mental disorders are quite a few,” he said. “In our country, women suffer from depression more than men, and currently this mental disorder has increased by 50%.”
Iran has worse conditions in comparison to other countries regarding cases of severe depression, the minister added. Cities in the provinces of Tehran, Fars, Isfahan and Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, respectively, are suffering the most from severe depression.
“Living in the city outskirts is another issue leading to depression. Widespread migration from villages to cities and their changing lifestyle cause the most severe psychological and spiritual damage, and those living in the city outskirts are dealing with the worst conditions,” he added.
More than 12% of adults in Iran suffer from depression and more than 14% of them have symptoms of anxiety disorders, according to Iran’s Health Ministry Office of Psychological and Social Health, adding the total number of people suffering from mental disorders in Iran is over 23%.
