Where to Begin: Impact of Vision Loss on Mental Health
When we started to explore and discover the complex relationship between vision health and mental health, it was overwhelming. It seemed obvious as a point of conversation, however from a research perspective, there is a long way to go before cause-effect relationships can be concluded. Most recommendations focus on general proactive health behaviours as a way to rehabilitate individual wellbeing. In reference to the biggest impact, policy papers point to improvements in systems and society. Here are a range of perspectives on the conversation, from Social Work to Research, from local to global, to help you better understand some of the factors at play.
Mental Health among Children and Young Adults with Visual Impairments: A Systematic Review (article) “A systematic review was conducted of articles published between January 1998 and July 2016, inclusive.” “The findings presented in this review may have implications for the education of children with visual impairments. It is important for children to develop appropriate coping strategies for disabilities, and for their teachers to detect whether some students show signs of behavior that could increase their risk of developing mental health disorders.”
Eyes hint at hidden mental-health conditions (magazine article) “As understanding of the links between eye and brain health deepens, evidence is building that changes in the condition or function of the eye can hint at the presence and progression of neurological disorders, as well as brain injuries such as concussion.”
Visual impairment and psychological distress among adults attending the University of Gondar tertiary eye care and training center, Northwest Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study (article) “This study revealed that the prevalence of psychological distress was significantly higher among visually impaired adults than among adults with normal vision. The effect of visual impairment on psychological distress was significantly related to marital status, living arrangements, educational status, duration of vision loss, pattern of vision loss, and laterality of vision loss.”
Vision impairment and self-reported anxiety and depression in older adults in Nigeria: evidence from a cross-sectional survey in Kogi State (article) “These findings suggest a substantial mental health burden among people with vision impairment in LMICs, particularly older men, underscoring the importance of targeted policies and programmes addressing the preventable causes of vision impairment and blindness.”
Psychological Impact of Vision Loss (article) “Several participants linked their worsening vision with feelings of loss or anticipated loss. Although this sense of loss was not always directly related to vision, often this was at the root – for example, Margaret had to give up work partly due to anxiety related to her vision loss and summarized her loss of role: ‘I do sit and cry sometimes and a lot of that is because I don’t seem to have a purpose in life at the moment’.”
Vision Loss and Mental Health: The Hidden Connection (magazine article) “An educational workshop at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in New York City has shed light on this important, growing topic. “What we are talking about is not new, but has never been a focus of the psychiatric community,” says Michael Ascher, MD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, who cochaired the session. “We want to use our observations to begin the dialogue.””
Your Mental Health: How Vision Loss Impacts Depression (services article) “The mental health impact of vision loss can be enormous. Researchers estimate that between a quarter and a third of adults with low vision experience depression. You may feel you can no longer engage in the activities you enjoy. You may feel like a different person—someone who needs help, feels less independent, disconnects with friends, or loses confidence and self-worth. These feelings can worsen every time you find you can no longer do something the way you did it before.”
Understanding the Culture of Disability (services article) “We, as a societal whole, need to first learn to accept one another as uniquely different, celebrate our individuality, and recognize the gifts, varying perspectives, and talents each and every one of us can share and contribute. This can only happen when we all accept ourselves as being one of a kind, distinct with exceptional skills, and utilize these attributes to lift each other up within our communities.”
Visual Impairment and Mental Health: Unmet Needs and Treatment Options (article) “In order to improve outcomes, a better understanding of the mechanisms linking visual impairment and poor mental health is needed. It will also be essential to develop more effective interventions and expand access to services to improve the detection and treatment of mental health problems in this population.”
Living with Vision Loss (white paper) “By and large, Canada is considered “average” by the vision loss community regarding accessibility compared to other countries. This leaves a marked space for improvement, and for the country to initiate widespread reforms that could, if prioritized, generate a model for inclusivity.”
Curious about participating in the conversation? Has this prompted questions you’d like to ask? Join our Open Minded Chats session tomorrow evening with an Ambassador from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind at 6:30PM. This free virtual event is an opportunity to listen and learn from those with lived experience, supporting equitable access to mental health for our community. Link to register is here: http://bit.ly/3JYMIBl. See you soon!
