Mental health matters to 75% of Brazilians, according to a survey | the health

+ Depression in the pandemic: physical activity helps prevent and treat
+ Regular exercise reduces the risk of anxiety by about 60%

– All intervention strategies today already take into account that physical exercise will have a significant impact not only on the health of the body, but also on mental health. Man is a holistic subject, these aspects intersect, and it is difficult to isolate mind and body – assesses Adriana, who cites Study collaborators with Covid Mental Disorders published in October in the scientific journal The Lancet Published in October this year.

+ How to maintain mental health in times of social isolation

According to this work, there were 53.2 million cases of depression in the world between January 1, 2020 and January 29, 2021, an increase of 27.6% over the previous one. And in the case of anxiety disorders, there were 76.2 million new cases, an increase of 25.6% compared to the period immediately preceding the pandemic. Special concern for Brazilians regarding issues related to mental health dialogues with the large number of people suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders in the country. According to data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2020, Brazil is the country with the highest rate of people with anxiety disorders in the world, with 9.3% of Brazilians affected, the fifth in depression, affecting 5.8% of the population country.

Adriana knows that there is no way to care for the mind without caring for the body, just as it is difficult to pursue physical well-being without working on the mind. During the pandemic, social isolation, increased sedentary lifestyle due to lockdown and the need to adopt home-office and online classes have had a significant impact on the growth of cases of mental disorders. Other factors include the unpredictability of the situation and fear of the virus, as well as grief in many cases.

Many people chose to exercise at home, but even so, the social factor of physical activity was still lacking. Many simply stop exercising.

– Everything was so new. When there is a pandemic and the athlete is not excited, what do you do? Being outdoors is very important to some people. Others have adapted to training at home. But there has been an increase in sedentary lifestyles, and taking physical activity out of the routine is affecting mental health. You are left without a tool that has a significant impact on your well-being – Adriana reviews. – During physical exercise, the prefrontal cortex releases dopamine and serotonin, which are hormones associated with pleasure that lead to feelings of fullness and balance. You see effects on neural connections, which affect the entire emotional side. There is no separation between mind and body.

+ Exercise can be a great ally in preventing and combating depression
+ Fighting depression: exercise is the ally of the brain

The psychiatrist explains that physical activity contributes to controlling breathing and heart health, increasing quality of life and helping reduce anxiety. The way it affects the brain also reduces symptoms and the risk of depression. You also remember that a balanced diet and good sleep are key, and that exercise helps at least in terms of sleep.

One of the factors increasing the incidence of anxiety disorders and depression in the pandemic is a social factor. We are social beings, we need to connect. When the connection is lost, the impact is significant. And physical activity also contributes to increasing the social circle of a person – it complements, enhances: – Concerns about mental health and physical well-being go hand in hand, they complement each other. There is a clear intersection.