Number of attending patients whose main diagnosis is associated Mental Disorders growing more and more in colombia from 2009, going from 405,124 people that year to 1.5 million in 2021, by date Ministry of Health and Social Security.
This figure has quadrupled in 12 years, a clear indication that action must be taken in the face of this scenario, as some experts confirm.
Additionally, these figures show that 1.6 million people were treated for a mental health diagnosis in 2019 and 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began in the country. 1.3 million people were served, but that number is set to increase to 1.5 million in 2021.
In connection with these figures, the number of people killed by self-injury, that is, by suicides, has also increased significantly, according to data from the Integrated Social Security Information System (Syspro).
Thus, in 2010 there were 2,118 cases; There were 2,127 suicides in 2012 and 2,136 in 2014. The hike was on the rise from this year. For example, in 2016 the figure stood at 2,480 suicides; There were 2,869 cases in 2018 and in 2020, there were 2,748 deaths due to self-inflicted injuries.
From the Ministry of Health they mention that it is possible that the increase in diseases is linked to underreporting in previous years or Due to the increase of diseases.
Besides, “The situations that lead to various mental disorders are mainly situations of different types of violence, internal armed conflict, other types of external violence, school violence by classmates, classmates or teachers, family violence, exposure to psychoactive substances (alcohol, cigarettes and other ) are associated with consumption. substances), traumatic events at any stage of life, lack of parental involvement, and family dysfunction,
But this is based on the fact that the study was presented in 2015 and the pandemic hit in 2020, which is one of the factors that, according to psychologists and experts, has led to a rise in mental health diseases. Caused. Country.
to the doctor Angelica Maldonado, clinical psychologist, founder and director of Ship Mental, ,Sudden disruption of school and work routines, social distancing measures, changes in household chores, economic uncertainty and extreme concern for health, many people experienced as factors contributing to a range of mental health problems, among them anxiety increased anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, isolation, sleep problems, increased use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, substance abuse, and situations of family violence,
The first of the points the psychologists mentioned is that girls and boys can “grow up in a safe environment and have their needs met.”
Besides, It is important to pay attention when there are pre-existing mental health illnesses.
And in the face of it, according to World Health Organization data, the country has basically two problems, Colombia has only 2.5 psychiatrists for every 100,000 inhabitants. to which it is added that “Mental health issues are still stigmatized and neglected”, as stated by Angelica Maldonado.
in that sense, Understanding the reasons for the increase in numbers is the key to reducing them.
Depression, one of the most frequent disorders
in Colombia, “Depression is the second leading cause of disease burden. 44.7% of girls and boys have signs of a mental health problem and 2.3% have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”, registers the health portfolio in the country.
In addition, in adolescence Anxiety, social phobia and depression are the most commonly described. And the ministry claims that “Suicidal thoughts occur in 6.6% of this population (7.4% in women and 5.7% in men),
Another striking feature of these figures is that Women are more often prone to mental health ailments.
