Mental Health

Mental-health problems are more widespread than many of us realize. Depression, dementia, bipolar disorder and learning difficulties have reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Almost one in every six people in United States and United Kingdom suffers from depression. One in every four people in United States reports having some form of mental disorder. The economic burden of mental illness increased rapidly in the last two decades, and will soon be comparable to that of cancer or heart disease. In England alone, the annual cost of mental disorders is $150 billion. The elderly population in developed countries like the United States and European nations will double in the next 20 years, thus increasing the cost of caring for mental disorders related to aging, such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

The Foresight Project of Mental Capital and Well-Being, supported by the U.K. Government Office of Science, brought together hundreds of experts and policymakers around the world to investigate the challenges and opportunities we will face in the coming decades regarding mental health. The project examined two aspects of mental health: mental capital and mental well-being. Mental capital refers to a person's learning and cognitive capacity, emotional intelligence, social skills and stress tolerance. Mental well-being refers to a person's ability to reach his potential, and to have good and meaningful relationships with others and society. Obviously, mental well-being and mental capital are closely related.

The key recommendations of this project, published in the October 2008 issue of Nature, include

+ Implementing interventions to improve the mental capital of both young and old
+ Using advanced biomarkers, neuromarkers and screening strategies to detect mental disorders and learning difficulties at early ages
+ Continuing learning throughout life
+ Adapting the workplace to new demands

The project findings also emphasize the importance of investing in large-scale longitudinal studies that will help us determine and understand various genetic, social and behavioral factors that underlie mental disorders.

Hopefully, policymakers will take these recommendations into account and implement interventions that will help to improve the mental capital and well-being of our various nations.