Psychology Month highlights depression as the world’s leading disability

VANCOUVER, B.C., Jan. 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- February marks Psychology Month in British Columbia and the BC Psychological Association (BCPA) is raising awareness of the role psychology plays in lives, jobs and communities with 15 free public presentations throughout the month.

Presentation topics include managing chronic pain, sustaining healthy relationships, mindfulness for resilient teenagers, gender identity in children and youth, stress reduction, and staying connected in the face of increasing social isolation.

The World Health Organization has determined depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. More than 300 million people are now living with depression – an increase of more than 18 per cent in 10 years.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada estimates the economic burden of mental illness to the Canadian economy to be $51 billion per year and notes that one in five Canadians will face a mental illness or substance mis-use problem in their lifetime. Social isolation is also increasingly recognized as a public health threat. In the Harvard Business Review, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called loneliness a “growing health epidemic,” citing research indicating social isolation is associated with a reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

BCPA hopes the presentation series will raise awareness that effective psychological treatments exist for the vast majority of mental illnesses and identify where British Columbians can access treatment.

“Mental illness and addiction have a profound effect on everyone, in all walks of life and in all our communities. It affects families, the economy and the health care system,” says Cherie Payne, Executive Director of the BC Psychological Association. “Psychologists can help people through our referral service and by providing evidence-based treatment solutions to government that can effectively treat those suffering from mental illness and addiction.

“We hope that Psychology Month will encourage people to think and talk about their mental health, which is why we are offering free public talks in English and Mandarin in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Port Moody, and North Vancouver.”

These free talks are sponsored by BCPA:

BCPA operates a province-wide free psychologist referral service. Patients can search for a Registered Psychologist by city, client type, area of practice, therapy method and language by visiting www.psychologists.bc.ca/find_psychologist_full or by calling 604-730-0522 or 1-800-730-0522.

About BC Psychological Association

Established in 1938, the British Columbia Psychological Association (BCPA) and its members are committed to supporting the emotional health and psychological well-being of British Columbians. BCPA believes that all British Columbians deserve access to high-quality, clinically proven psychological care provided by Registered Psychologists.