Does happiness in the second-happiest country in the world come with a twist?
Possibly, according to a new study showing that the country—whose population has ranked among the happiest in the world for a decade—has a surprisingly high incidence of mental health disorders.
“This has never been investigated before [in Denmark],” Dr. Lars Vedel Kessing, professor of psychiatry at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and coauthor of the study, told The Epoch Times.
The study was recently published in JAMA Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed medical journal by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Examining a random sample of 1.5 million Danish residents from 1995 to 2018, the study estimates that, at some point in their lives, a staggering 82.6 percent of the population was treated for a mental health disorder within hospital settings or by general practitioners or private psychiatrists. This percentage is significantly higher than previously reported, highlighting the greater prevalence and impact of mental health disorders on society.
“Here in Denmark, we’ve received nominations for being the happiest country,” Dr. Kessing said. “We have a sophisticated health care system and many resources. The incidence of mental illness is higher than we originally believed. This study shows that mental illness is not for the few but for the majority.”
The study examined mental health disorders experienced by the participants, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This categorization allowed for a nuanced understanding of Denmark’s broad mental health landscape.
The research also focused on psychotropic drug prescriptions as a treatment approach and found that 70.4 percent (pdf) of the population was prescribed psychotropic medications to treat mental health disorders.
These findings shed light on the potential societal burden of mental health disorders and emphasize the role of pharmacotherapy in managing these conditions.
The authors acknowledged the need for further exploration of the clinical effectiveness and safety of the prescribed psychotropic drugs, which fell outside the scope of this study.
The Danish study explored how mental health disorders may affect socioeconomic outcomes by analyzing integrated health and socioeconomic data on national employment, income, and education.
The results showed that people with diagnosed mental health disorders experienced higher unemployment rates, lower incomes, and a higher likelihood of living alone.
Anxiety, depression, and mood disorders can make stable employment challenging because of trouble concentrating, meeting deadlines, or managing stress effectively.
Stress and burnout can trigger mental health issues in Denmark as well as any other country, whether ranked among the happiest or not, Dr. Kessing said. People with mental illness often struggle to obtain and keep jobs, which frequently causes more stress, fueling a self-perpetuating cycle.
Mental illness poses significant challenges for people aspiring to pursue higher education. Students dealing with mental health disorders face an increased risk of experiencing poor academic performance due to frequent absences and lower school completion rates, according to a 2019 study published in the Australian Journal of Psychology.
The many obstacles associated with mental illness and education can act as barriers, hindering individuals from reaching their full educational potential and leading to long-term repercussions for their future careers and socioeconomic prospects.
The Danish study’s findings have far-reaching implications for health care professionals, policymakers, and society. It is a reminder to prioritize mental health services, reduce the stigma surrounding them, and foster a supportive environment for those struggling, according to the authors.
“This data should encourage society to put strength and effort into studying mental illness and how it impacts lives,” Dr. Kessing said. People with mental disorders are often misjudged by their family, boss, and there is even self-stigmatization, he added.
Dr. Kessing emphasized the significant role of loneliness in perpetuating the challenges faced by individuals living with mental illness.
For some, dealing with mental disorders means living in isolation, lacking support and understanding from family and society. A 2017 study published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience revealed that self-stigmatization can be a barrier to recovery for patients with mental illness. Feelings of shame and guilt can burden mentally ill individuals, hindering them from seeking the help they need.
People affected by mental disorders can find comfort in knowing there is no shame in their condition and that many others have also faced challenges at some point in their lives, Dr. Kessing said.
The Danish study has unveiled avenues for future research, according to Dr. Kessing. Longitudinal studies can provide insights into the lifelong journey of individuals with mental health disorders. At the same time, investigations into the efficacy of psychotropic medications and other treatments, such as metabolic interventions, offer directions for treatment.
“[Mental illness] is more common than we thought. People don’t have to live in fear. They aren’t alone,” Dr. Kessing said.
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