Crisis Leads to Spike in Insomnia and Depression Among Executives

12/07/2015 - 08h51

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LUCAS VETTORAZZO

FROM RIO

The economic crisis, which was further aggravated this year, increased cases of health issues related to stress, like depression, insomnia and anxiety among executives, managers and other Brazilian businessmen.

The survey was led by the Med-Rio Check Up clinic, which provides medical check-ups for executives and employees in high positions for the country's biggest companies. The survey revealed that there was a 37.5 percent increase in the number of patients with depression during the first semester of this year when compared with data for the same period in the previous year.

Ricardo Borges/Folhapress Simone Silva, from Rio de Janeiro, suffer lack of sleep.

The study identified more incidents in cases of insomnia (increase of 19%), anxiety (60%) and stress (27.7%).

The fear of losing their jobs and the difficulty in resolving management issues lead the employees to prolong their shifts and dedicate less time to health.

One businessman from the infant clothing sector shared that he developed depression after having to close 16 of his 17 stores in two years, as a result of the crisis.

"I haven't received a full night's sleep in a year. My marriage ended, and there are no prospects for my company", he says. He had a revenue of US $5 thousand. Today, his earnings don't extend beyond US $1,300 monthly.

Psychiatrists say that, in moments of crisis, emotional problems take off.

"The stress leaves the person susceptible to migraines, gastrite and even heart attacks. More common, however, are case of depression, anxiety and insomnia", says Antônio Nardi, psychiatrist for the Psychiatry Institute at UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro).

This year, in Brazil, retail sales of mood altering drugs and antidepressants increased 11.6 percent in the 12 month period which ended in October. The survey was conducted by the consulting firm IMS Health.

A study with 200 Brazilians led by the German consulting firm GfK showed that the leading causes of stress are: demanding a lot from themselves, lack of sleep and time to do what they like, an insufficient amount of money, as well as violence.

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

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