Comparative analysis of the population's mental health in the Republic of Karelia, the Vologda and Pskov oblasts

The relevance of mental health research is due to the scale of mental illness and their impact on the physical health and working capacity of the population. In Russia, two-thirds of the mentally ill are of working age. At the same time, every fourth person is disabled, and every third person works. More than a quarter of disabled children become disabled because of mental illness. Depressive and anxiety disorders annually hurt global economy to the value of $ 1 trillion. The global burden of mental illnesses accounts for a third of the “lost years of working life” from all diseases being ahead of those from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and cancer. The world health organization recommends that mechanisms should be put in place to monitor the impact of changes in economic and social policies on mental health. The article presents the results of a study conducted in 2019 in three subjects of the North-Western Federal District (Republic of Karelia, Vologda and Pskov oblasts) for the purpose of comparative analysis of mental healthin the regions through the analysis of statistical and sociological data. 1,500 respondents over the age of 18 were interviewed. The questionnaire included two psychodiagnostic methods: Hospital scale of anxiety and depression and Express diagnosis of neurosis. It turned out that in the Vologda Oblast, despite the most favorable socio-economic and demographic situation, there is a high level and growth rate in the incidence of mental disorders. The Pskov Oblast has the highest rates of child morbidity with mental disorders and levels of anxiety, depression, neurosis and suicide among adults against the background of difficult economic conditions and population decline. In the Republic of Karelia, despite the high level of unemployment and poverty, the number of people suffering from psychoemotional disorders and the suicide rate are lower. There is a correlation between suicide mortality and the prevalence of anxiety and depression, as well as deterioration of mental health during economic crises.