Under Pressure

THE effect of chronic illness on the mind can sometimes be as devastating as the toll it takes on the body.

Depression is two to three times more common in people with a long-term physical health problem like heart disease, cancer, arthritis or diabetes - and feeling mentally wretched isn’t the only consequence.

Studies show that people with both cancer and depression are up to 39% more likely to die than people with cancer alone. And those suffering heart disease and depression have an increased risk of death following a heart attack.