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300million suffering from depression is focus of this year's World Health Day

300million suffering from depression is focus of this year’s World Health Day

Today is World Health Day and this year’s focus is on depression.

The annual health initiative is organised by the World Health Organisation in a bid to educate individuals worldwide about their health.  

According to recent WHO statistics more than 300million people are now livingwith depression, which represents an increase of more than 18% between 25 and 2015.

The WHO hope this years  focus on depression will encourage those struggling with mental ill health to seek and get help.

According to leading cognitive health expert, author of Executive Function and founder of My Cognition, Keiron Sparrowhawk, much more can and must be done.

To tie in with this year’s World Health Organisation’s focus on improving mental health, together with other experts in this area of occupational health, cognitive health professionals My Cognition will be  delivering a Secrets to Wellness workshop in London at The Shard on 12 July.

 Speakers will include Gareth Williams, Medical Director, Medigold Health and Professor John Harrison, Associate Professor at Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam.

The workshop will explore how to assess cognitive health in the workplace, confidentially and without disruption, the idea of workplace versus cognitive intervention, as well as  prevention and belief policy.

Founder of My Cognition Keiron Sparrowhawk says: “A once a year talk or activity to address employees’ mental health provision is not sufficient. Poor mental health IS preventable in the workplace.

 “Poor mental health arises not only as a result of employee genetic make-up but also due to the environment in which employees live and work and their lifestyle choices. There ARE effective interventions to prevent and treat poor mental health in the workplace and for employees on maternity/paternity leave. Interventions do not have to be pill-based or require specialist input.”

One in five people now suffer from a mental health problem some time in their lives. Statistics show a societal increase in mental health issues both in the UK and Europe – 31% of the UK workforce have suffered from mental health issues.

 

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