Healio highlights link between ocular, mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month
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Since 1949, May has been designated Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to address the challenges faced by millions of individuals experiencing mental health conditions, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
With the organization reporting that one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, it encourages the public to engage in open conversations about mental health to help overcome the stigma and foster understanding and empathy for those affected.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Healio recaps the latest news and research that reflect the relationship between vision loss, ocular disorders and mental health.
Adults with strabismus up to 3 times more likely to have mental health conditions
Adults with strabismus were more likely to have mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and substance use and addiction, compared with those without strabismus, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
“Approximately 2% to 3% of individuals in the U.S. have strabismus, a condition that may negatively affect psychosocial well-being and predispose individuals to mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression,” Kimberly Jin, BS, a student at UMass Chan Medical School, and colleagues wrote. “Limited research exists on the association between strabismus and mental health in diverse populations, leaving gaps in our understanding of the effect of strabismus across sociodemographic backgrounds.” Read more.
Optometrists should be aware of bidirectional relationship between vision loss, distress
Targeted screening, integrated services and a biopsychosocial approach to care may help identify and manage anxiety and depression among people with vision loss, according to a perspective published in Psychodynamic Psychiatry.
“Studies conducted at Lighthouse Guild suggest that persons with eye conditions with poor prognosis, such as diabetic retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa, endorse symptoms of depression more so than those with reversible or more treatable causes of low vision,” Edward Ross, LCSW, BCD, corresponding author and director of health and behavioral health services at Lighthouse Guild, told Healio. “Studies such as this should be replicated among diverse socioeconomic, ethnic and racial populations to better identify individuals at greater risk.” Read more.
Former NFL player Brandon Marshall targets mental health stigma with pillars of ‘fitness’
Former NFL wide receiver and longtime mental health advocate Brandon Marshall emphasized the importance of maintaining mental health and shared his methods for staying mentally “fit.”
“This is the most important conversation taking place here,” Marshall told attendees in a plenary session at Academy ’23. “Mental health touches everyone. If it’s not you, it’s your loved one, your child, your neighbor, your co-worker.” Read more.
Mental, ocular health ‘inextricably linked,’ says OD turned psychotherapist
Optometrists are in a unique position to help identify mental health conditions in patients, according to optometrist turned licensed psychotherapist Dennis Pardo, OD, MPH, FAAO, LCSW, MSW.
“As optometric physicians, we are the PCPs of the eye, and we may be the first to notice mental health in our patients,” Pardo told attendees at an Academy ’23 plenary session. “Just like diabetes, mental health and ocular health are inextricably linked.” Read more.
Survey: Optometrists ‘happier than other health professions’ but burnout is high
A survey of American Academy of Optometry fellows revealed a low level of depression but a high level of burnout, Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, said during the Academy ‘23 plenary session.
Melnyk, vice president for health promotion and chief wellness officer at The Ohio State University, conducted a national wellness survey of 4,000 academy fellows in the spring of 2023. Read more.
References:
- Mental Health Awareness Month. https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/. Accessed April 26, 2024.
- Mental health conditions. https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-conditions/. Accessed April 26, 2024.