Elmārs Rancāns: Mental health is important every day, not just when it makes headlines

Writer: Prof. Elmārs Rancāns, psychiatrist, Head of the RSU Department of Psychiatry and Narcology 

Mental health issues receive greater public and media attention when a tragic event occurs, such as the passing of a well-known athlete(s) or the disappearance of a young woman and child. However, similar situations happen around us every day. The positive change is that mental health is no longer a "taboo" topic, instead, it is being discussed more openly. 

Prof. Elmārs Rancāns, psychiatrist, Head of the RSU Department of Psychiatry and Narcology. Publicity photo

The topic is relevant both in the media, on social networks, in conversations among friends, and in the daily work of healthcare professionals. More and more people, including public figures, are sharing their experiences in dealing with mental health challenges. Campaigns are being organised to support particularly vulnerable groups, such as victims of violence, or men. 

What is the current situation? What do the figures and facts tell us? Who can we trust in the abundance of information? How should we act when encountering mental health issues in our own lives or in the lives of those closest to us, or acquaintances?

People still prefer to say “mental” health (mentālā veselība – a literal Latvian translation of the term used in English) rather than “psychiatric” disorders. This suggests that there is still a deep-rooted prejudice against anything that starts with “psych-”. As a result, many people hesitate to acknowledge that they might have psychiatric disorders and are reluctant to seek help.

Psychiatric disorders/illnesses include everything from serious illnesses such as schizophrenia and dementia to emotional reactions during a crisis, various types of anxiety, and depression. Denial or lack of awareness of the severity of an illness often prevents people from seeking help, which can have tragic consequences.

Ruthless statistics

One of the most visible parts of the iceberg is the number of so-called “completed” suicides. Although over the past two decades, the overall suicide rate in Latvia has fallen below both the Soviet stagnation levels and the figures from the first period of the independence (1), we still rank among the top five in Europe in this tragic statistic. In 2023, a total of 264 people in Latvia took their own lives (2). A particularly striking aspect of the data is that there were 5.4 male suicides for every female suicide, with the 40 to 55 age group standing out in particular. This shows that the current campaign to support men's mental health is extremely important. 

E. Rancans. Suicidal behaviours in Latvia 1980-2000: self-destructive tendencies in a society in transition. Doctoral thesis, Umeå University, Umeå 2001, Sweden
CSB. Mortality by cause of death, sex and age group 2010 - 2023

In the past three years, the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) has responded to an average of 2,400 calls related to suicide attempts (3). Researchers at the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Department of Psychiatry and Narcology have in several studies found, that the number of people who have attempted suicide in the last year is almost twice the number known to EMS (4-5).

60-70% of people have been in a depressive state at the time of the suicide. Other previously unrecognised mental illnesses, as well as the excessive use of alcohol and drugs contribute to people taking this tragic step. At least 7% of the Latvian population suffer from depression each year, and about 10% experience various types of anxiety that would require treatment.

Self-diagnosis and self-treatment – the role of social media

Social media plays an important role in highlighting depression and other mental health disorders where people can share their experiences with current or past diagnoses (such as depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, and others); both from Latvia and abroad. This information is widely available, besides, when a person starts searching for content related to specific topics, social media algorithms will generate more and more content. This has both positive and negative effects. 

Unfortunately, alongside personal experience stories, many tips on how to recognise and treat a range of mental illnesses appear and spread very quickly on social media. However, often they are neither accurate nor scientifically grounded. This issue was recently even highlighted in a special deep dive on a programme on Latvian television, broadcast “Aizliegtais paņēmiens: Dakteris TikTok”. 

While mental health disorders, like most other illnesses, are unlikely to be cured through “internet advice’” alone, social media can still serve as a starting point, but in conjunction with the help of reliable and proven tools. 

The importance of reliable screening tools

Several years ago, the RSU Department of Psychiatry and Narcology made the PHQ-9 Patient  Health Questionnaire on depression symptoms (in Latvian and in Russian) available on the website www.depresija.lv. The questionnaire was scientifically adapted and created specifically for Latvia. This is the only tool in Latvia that accurately measures the severity of depressive symptoms and provides recommendations on when to seek professional help. Hundreds of people complete this test every day.

Now, a test for general anxiety disorder (GAD) is also available. At the beginning of 2025, we expanded the range of online express tests by introducing GAD-7 self-assessment scale on anxiety symptoms specifically adapted for Latvia (available in both languages). This will also help to accurately assess the presence of anxiety symptoms, which play a key role in the recognition of various mental illnesses.

After completing the tests, if signs of depression or anxiety are present, it is essential to consult a general practitioner, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist for a more accurate evaluation and appropriate further support.

Research in the field of postpartum depression continues

One of the areas in the field of mental health that has received increased public attention in recent years due to various tragic events is postpartum depression. Researchers from the RSU Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, in collaboration with the Riga Maternity Hospital, have been conducting an extensive study on the prevalence, recognition, risk factor assessment, and care improvement of postpartum depression since June 2024. All women, who visit a gynaecologist at the Riga Maternity Hospital on an outpatient basis during the 4th-6th week after childbirth, are being surveyed. Along with a comprehensive assessment of socio-demographic and health factors, psychiatrists carefully assess all types of psychiatric symptoms, women's awareness and their experiences with mental health support. Data from the first six months indicate that the prevalence of postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms in Latvia is at the average level for Europe (more than 10% of new mothers experience postpartum depression or anxiety). Researchers have identified a number of factors that may be associated with an increased risk of developing depression or anxiety. Unfortunately, it has also been observed that women with significantly distinct symptoms do not seek professional help afterwards. The study is still ongoing, and the results from the first six months will be presented and discussed in detail at the International Student Conference within RSU Research Week at the end of March.

Numbers, facts, and experience show that mental health is and will remain an integral part of human well-being. It must be openly discussed, and efforts made to ensure that as many people as possible receive the necessary support and help in time both from their peers, the doctors and the state.

Source: Delfi.lv