Health Plaza for physical and mental health

Physical illness and mental illnes

Cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease are the three major leading causes of death, and it is said that nearly two-thirds of Japanese people die from causes related to lifestyle-related diseases. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and obesity can cause strokes, myocardial infarctions, and other serious illnesses, but the symptoms from the diseases themselves are quite rare, and unlikely to interfere greatly with daily life. Which is why the disease is often left untreated. Furthermore, mental illness is a problem that symbolizes the complexity and seriousness of modern human illness. In recent years, cases of depression, suicide, social withdrawal, refusal to attend school, and juvenile crimes have increased rapidly. Mental illness has become a modern-day “social disease.” According to a survey by the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in 10 American adults suffer from depression, and antidepressant use has tripled from 20 years ago. In Japan, the number of people with mental disorders exceeded 3 million as of 2005.