IRS Lillebælt Hospital
Mental health in focus for people with COPD
On the occasion of European Mental Health Week, the European Lung Foundation and the European Respiratory Society have launched a statement on mental health among people with COPD.
The initiatives are intended to strengthen mental health support for people living with lung diseases - an area that is often underprioritised in treatment today. The launch marks an important step towards a more holistic approach to care, where physical and mental health are addressed together in the treatment of people with lung diseases.
What is COPD?
COPD is a chronic lung disease that makes breathing difficult. Typical symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue.
The disease is often caused by smoking, but it may also be linked to air pollution or exposure to dust and chemicals.
COPD cannot be cured, but treatment and support can improve quality of life. Many people with COPD also experience anxiety, depression and social isolation.
People with chronic lung diseases face a significantly increased risk of anxiety, depression and psychological distress, yet mental health is rarely integrated into clinical practice. The new statement highlights the need for action across policy, healthcare systems and civil society, while the accompanying toolkit translates the recommendations into concrete initiatives for patients, relatives, organisations and healthcare professionals.
Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard, associate professor at the Department of Regional Health Research and Lillebaelt Hospital, is vice chair of the ERS psychology group, where she has helped shape the initiative.
Chronic lung disease and mental health
People with chronic lung diseases are far more likely to experience anxiety, depression, psychological distress, isolation and concerns about breathing difficulties and disease progression.
- One in four people with lung disease experiences anxiety or depression
- People with lung disease are two to three times more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population
- We know that psychological distress and lung disease are closely linked, but this is not reflected in the treatment patients receive today. With this initiative, we now have a shared European foundation for integrating mental health into respiratory care and creating better support for patients, says Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard.
From European recommendations to patient care in practice
Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard is affiliated with the Medical Department at Lillebaelt Hospital, where a new COPD Centre has recently been established. Mental health will be an integrated part of patients’ treatment pathways at the centre.
Among other things, patients complete a national PRO questionnaire before their appointment, covering physical, psychological and social aspects of living with COPD.
- Many patients experience anxiety, depression, social isolation and reduced physical functioning. These factors can negatively affect treatment outcomes, which is why it is important that we work systematically with mental health as part of the overall treatment, says Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard.
The new COPD Centre has been awarded regional funding of DKK 1.4 million.
Mental Health Statement
The Mental Health Statement serves as a shared European declaration and call to action. It identifies six priority areas:
- Integrating mental health into respiratory care
- Supporting patients and relatives
- Investing in research and data
- Strengthening patient organisations
- Tackling stigma
- Influencing policy and healthcare systems
Meet the researcher
Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard is a psychologist and associate professor at the Department of Regional Health Research and Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle Hospital.