Certain illnesses, such as diabetes and cancer, may put you at higher risk of mental health issues. Here’s why — and where to find the treatment.

Having a chronic condition — such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer — can be a lot. For starters, it could involve scheduling and going to multiple doctor’s visits, taking medication, doing home testing and more.

It can also cause a lot of stress and anxiety, so it’s no wonder that having a chronic condition puts people at a higher risk of depression.

Let’s take a closer look at the link between depression and 3 common chronic conditions.

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What can cause depression?

If you have a chronic condition, you’re at a higher risk of developing depression, a common but serious mental health disorder.

Experts don’t know exactly what causes depression. It may be a combination of psychological, biological, genetic and environmental factors.

If you feel down most of the day for more than 2 weeks and your mood affects everyday activities, such as eating, sleeping and working, you may have depression. Other signs of depression may include:

• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating
• Hopelessness
• Irritability
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Physical symptoms, such as pains or gastrointestinal issues that don’t get better with treatment

Risk factors for depression in people with chronic conditions include:

• Stress and anxiety caused by having a chronic condition
• Brain changes caused by a chronic condition, such as a stroke or Parkinson’s disease
• Medications that can cause depression as a side effect
• Personal or family history of depression

If you suspect that you have depression, talk to your health care provider. Treatment options include in-person or telehealth-based talk therapy, medication, brain stimulation therapies or a combination.

Let’s talk about 3 common chronic conditions linked to depression.

1. Heart disease

Between 20% and 40% of people with heart disease experience depression.

Learning that you have heart disease can be particularly difficult because the heart is so closely tied to life itself, says Michelle Di Paolo, Ph.D. She’s a psychotherapist and founder of Stress and Relaxation Services of America in Plano, Texas. “Part and parcel of what we think about when we think of living is the heart,” says Di Paolo. “When it comes to heart conditions, there is an even more intensified stress response.”

If you have heart disease and depression, you’re more likely to have more severe symptoms of both illnesses. The good news is that when depression improves, so does heart disease.

2. Diabetes

An estimated 3 in 10 people with diabetes in the United States also experience depression. Depression can make it harder to manage diabetes and adhere to medical recommendations, such as:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising
• Monitoring blood sugar
• Taking medication

In addition to seeking treatment for depression, Di Paolo recommends taking action to empower yourself. “People taking charge of their treatment reduces significantly the likelihood of a depressive episode,” she says.

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3. Cancer

About 2 in 10 people with cancer develop depression. “You’re hit with a grief response,” says Di Paolo. “The person that you’ve lost is yourself.”

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, risk factors for depression include:

• The need to make changes in your life plans
• Changes in body image and self-esteem
• Changes in day-to-day activities
• Legal and medical worries
• Being confronted with the possibility of dying

After you’re diagnosed with cancer, additional risk factors include:

• Pain that is not well controlled
• Physical weakness caused by cancer or treatment
• Advanced cancer or a troubling outlook on its course

It’s natural to focus on what you perceive will never happen, what you won’t have time to accomplish, says Di Paolo. One way she recommends challenging these negative thoughts is to identify what things you still can and want to do.

“Get out a piece of paper and make a list of all the ways your life will be exactly the same as it was before — all of the things you will continue to be able to do,” she says. “Then actually do them. It’s not enough to write them down. You have to go from paper to living.”

How to deal with depression and a chronic condition

Because of the increased risk of depression, Di Paolo encourages people with chronic conditions to be proactive in seeking mental health support. That could be anything from seeing a mental health professional to attending a support group. “Go even before you’re experiencing depression, because you need the support,” she says. “You may not even recognize that something’s changed in you.”

By their nature, chronic conditions are traumatic, says Di Paolo. She defines trauma as “something that happens to you that’s unexpected or unusual and outside of your ability to cope effectively outside of your skill sets.” Di Paolo says, “When you look at these conditions, each one of them is going to hit each one of those checkboxes.”

Fortunately, depression is a treatable condition, and when your depression improves so does your overall well-being.

If you have concerns about your mental health, talk to your health care provider. They can refer you to a qualified mental health professional who can help you figure out the best next steps for your individual situation.

Enter your zip code to find the virtual care plan options available in your area or contact a licensed insurance agent at 1-844-211-7730 for more information.

The information above is provided as general information only. It is not intended to diagnose or recommend treatment of any illness, disease or condition. You should consult a qualified medical professional if you have questions or need more information.

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “National Diabetes Statistics Report.” May 15, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/?CDC_AAref_Val

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. “Cardiovascular disease and depression: a narrative review.” November 21, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10710900/

National Cancer Institute. “Depression (PDQ) — patient version.” July 9, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings/depression-pdq

National Institute of Mental Health. “Depression.” 2024. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression

National Institute of Mental Health. “Understanding the link between chronic disease and depression.” 2024. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health

Preventing Chronic Disease. “State-specific prevalence of depression among adults with and without diabetes — United States, 2011–2019.” August 10, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2023/22_0407.htm

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