WATCH ABOVE: A look at the increased need for funding and research for mental health. Crystal Goomansingh reports.
TORONTO- Fear. Pain. An inability to function.
These are just a few of the struggles millions of Canadians deal with as they battle depression and other forms of mental illness.
“I feel that depression is under represented in terms of research funding, charitable donations because its something that is really hidden until it comes out in the form of a high profile suicide,” said Dr. Kristen Patrick.
Patrick is the Deputy Editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal and wrote an editorial in which she urges citizens, the medical community and governments to recognize the burden of mental illness.
READ MORE: 6 months, 23 first responder suicides – what are we doing to help?
Based on statistics highlighted in the ‘Making the Case for Investing in Mental Health’ report there are 6.7 million people in Canada with mental illness. Compared to 2.2 million people with type 2 Diabetes and 1.4 million people in Canada with heart disease.
Despite that information there is far less awareness, fundraising and research for mental health illnesses.
“Depression itself is just unsexy. It’s just something that makes people feel bad … but it has huge multi-generational and inter-generational impact,” said Patrick.
“So parents who are depressed, their children are more likely to become depressed when they get to adolescence. Adulthood for example, if you’ve had one bout of depression you’re at higher risk of getting it again. So it’s something that snowballs with each generation.”
“Nobody likes to be sick and I don’t think that anybody likes to admit that their sick especially if it means potentially having mental illness and seeing a psychiatrist,” said Dr. Robert Madan, Chief of Psychiatry at Baycrest Health.
Many face a stigma based on their mental health and more fear they will be discriminated against because of it.
“The difference with depression is that it is not easy to see on an x-ray. It’s not easy to diagnose with some sort of lab test of blood test. It’s a real illness that affects thinking and behaviour and it causes a very significant burden to society,” said Madan.
READ MORE: Why you should care about changes to the DSM mental-health bible
“It impacts on peoples abilities to work, function in relationships, parent their children, enjoy life and participate fully in society,” said Dr. Patrick.
Sky Zazlov had been working as a paramedic dispatcher when there was an incident at work. She said it sent her into a tailspin. In 2011 she was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder.
“It hit me when my son was really young and my family was growing and it should have been a great time,” said Zazlov. “It was a total tornado. My life just went upside down … it’s been difficult.”
She agrees there is little research and awareness about depression but she also knows it’s hard to reach out for help and until more people feel comfortable speaking out there will be little public demand for more research.
“The illness, this deserves as much attention as anything else. The numbers put up in that article and if you look at the research it really suggests that this is a very common illness,” said Zazlov.
“We could be doing so much more to help people with mental illness,” said Patrick. “It’s just that we need to have it understood from a government level how important this disease is to be able to funnel the right kind of supports to the projects that need it.”
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