Ministry of Health's Estimate on the Impact of Political and Economic Tensions on Citizens' Mental Health

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health states that on average, more than 23% of the adult population in Iran has experienced a "psychiatric disorder" annually, and that political, social, and economic "tensions" and "negative news" have a direct impact on people's mental health. Iraj Harirchi, on Tuesday, April 16, at a press conference, mentioned that an average of 23.4% of the adult population in Iran has suffered from a psychiatric disorder over the course of a year, with this figure being 27.6% among women and 19.4% among men. He elaborated that "one in four people aged over 15 suffers from a mild to moderate psychiatric disorder, and in fewer cases, severe disorders." This official noted that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders over a year varies across different provinces in Iran, ranging from 12.8% to 36.3%, with Tehran's rate being reported at 30.2%. According to Mr. Harirchi, this means that in Tehran, "one in three people" suffers from psychiatric disorders. He also added that based on studies conducted, "political, social, and economic tensions that have arisen or occurred at specific intervals have direct effects on people's mental health." The spokesperson did not provide further details on this matter, but according to the latest annual report by the United Nations on the happiest countries in the world, Iran ranks 106 out of 156 countries. In this ranking, Iran is lower than countries such as Palestine, Venezuela, Somalia, Nigeria, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. In 2016, Hassan Mousavi Chelek, the head of the Iranian Social Workers Association, stated that Iran is the second "saddest" country in the world. He indicated that "Iran ranks 105th among 185 countries and is considered the second saddest country after Iraq." War, economic problems, the government's promotion of sad religious programs on radio and television, and the crackdown on happy programs and concerts, as well as family entertainment shows, have always plagued the Iranian people since the revolution. The spokesperson continued by stating that the incidence of mental disorders in women is "clearly and by 38.5% higher than in men" and added, "with increasing age, mental problems also increase." According to this government official, "the highest rate of mental disorders is among individuals over 65 years old. Furthermore, with increasing education levels, mental disorders decrease, and the highest rates of psychiatric disorders are found among the illiterate." The Deputy Minister of Health stated that mental disorders and addiction rank second in Iran after cardiovascular diseases, adding that the impact of these diseases "is much greater than diseases like cancer, diabetes, and traffic accidents on the disease burden in the country, particularly through years of life lived with disability." Mr. Harirchi also mentioned that the causes of mental disorders may include "hereditary factors, lifestyle, and social problems" and that "mental health is more of a social issue than a personal one." He stated that "an unhealthy society creates distrust and suspicion" and that "the most important aspect of social capital is social trust." Mr. Harirchi quoted mental health specialists as saying: "Individuals who are repeatedly exposed to negative news endure severe stress and, depending on their positive and negative abilities and talents, may suffer from depression and anxiety." He warned that "media tend to reflect more negative news and amplify the intensity of the news, making it more emotional," adding that "those who hear negative news spend more time worrying about personal concerns." In April 2017, the Mental Health and Social Office of the Iranian Ministry of Health announced that over 12% of adult citizens in Iran suffer from "depression," and more than 14% also experience anxiety disorders. According to this center, the overall rate of psychiatric disorders in the country exceeds 23%. Ali Asadi, the deputy of this organization, stated that this data was based on a "national survey" conducted in 2011 and added that "it is unclear whether this figure has changed since then." Ahmad Hajebi, the director of mental health and social affairs at the Ministry of Health, also noted that global studies indicate that "economic conditions, unemployment, and low income" are significant factors contributing to depression.