The issue of life expectancy has formed essential part of research, and ranking among debated topics for health agencies, governments, and other stakeholders. Primarily, life expectancy at the period of birth is a reflection of the population’s mortality level (WHO, 2018). As of 2016, the worldwide mean life expectancy was 72.0 (F=74.2, M=69.8 years). But disparities exist with African regions mean being 61.2 years compared to 77.7 years in European Regions. As noted by the WHO (2018), there has been a 5.5-year global increase in average expectancy from 2000 to 2016, reported as the fastest since the 1960s, attributed to among other reasons the improved child survival, expanded access to health services, immunizations, and HIV antiretroviral. Other causes are education, health awareness increase, improved sanitation, housing, and development of medications and vaccines vital in dealing with increased infections. Despite the success in managing low life expectancy, some of the contributing factors include increased chronic conditions (heart illness, renal sickness, stroke, diabetes, etc.), a rise in infectious diseases, suicides as well as lifestyle and risky behaviors (WHO, 2018; Ilyas, Chesney & Patel, 2017).
Suicide ranks as one of the factors adversely affecting life expectancy. One pivotal study is by Noah, Acciai and Firebaugh (2016), which focused on investigating how suicides contribute to the life expectancy while concentrating on a South Korean population. The study results showed that although life expectancy from 1995-2010, showed an increase by 6.5 years, the value was lower than anticipated values by 0.21 due to increased suicides. Thus, the researchers concluded that even if the rise in suicide rates ranked as the most crucial significant factor that slowed the Korean people’s life expectancy. And had had the age of the various suicide victims remained the same as opposed to an increase, the life expectancy would have declined even more (Noah, Acciai & Firebaugh, 2016).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Life expectancy is also a crucial concern for people with severe cases of mental disorders. As explained by the World Health Organization, mentally disordered persons die averagely earlier compared to general populations, a condition called premature mortality, with a reduction of 10-25 of one’s life expectancy. Although various causes exist, the significant contributing reason is that mental sick persons profoundly suffer from chronic physical health issues, e.g., diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular/heart and respiratory conditions. For example, persons having schizophrenia, a form of mental illness have a 2-2.5 higher mortality rate compared to the general population (Ilyas, Chesney & Patel, 2017). Additionally, apart from health illnesses, suicide is another major cause of premature deaths in persons with mental illnesses. When compared to the general public, persons having mental illness are noted as being 1.8 more likely to suffer and die from death linked to depression, with those having bipolar mood disorders mortality rates is over 35% than the general population (Ilyas, Chesney & Patel, 2017; Noah, Acciai & Firebaugh, 2016). Hence, with the desire in having a quality life, the existence of mental illnesses reduces the life expectancy of the affected.
It is evident from healthcare and public perspective that mental illnesses are associated with the high suicidal rates. And with suicides occurring early in life, there is the eventual minimization of one’s lifespan, i.e., life expectancy. Key interventions are applicable in promoting mental health wellness, e.g., raising awareness, increase quality care access, improving diagnosis as well as treating the preexisting physical conditions (Ilyas, Chesney & Patel, 2017; Noah, Acciai & Firebaugh, 2016). Hence, in meeting the increased life expectancy goals, minimization of suicide and mental health problems should form a key societal objective.
References
Ilyas, A., Chesney, E., & Patel, R. (2017). Improving life expectancy in people with serious mental illness: should we place more emphasis on primary prevention?. The British Journal of Psychiatry , 211 (4), 194-197.
Noah, A. J., Acciai, F., & Firebaugh, G. (2016). Understanding the contribution of suicide to life expectancy in South Korea. Demographic research , 35 , 617-644. Accessed from https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26332090.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A3cd4eac4056ac0a39312411fdf1e3223
WHO (2018). Life expectancy. World Health Organization (WHO).
