Daily stress causes mental health epidemic in Venezuela

Global Business

Life in Venezuela is hard economically, and that is causing daily stress – so much so that medical experts are calling it a country-wide epidemic.

Psychiatrists said 80 percent of all patients display symptoms of anxiety.  Doctors are observing high levels of anxiety and depression, which translate into aggression on the streets.

It is a vicious circle, with a lack of medicine and food causing crime rates to continue to soar, in turn creating more stress and anxiety.

Chronic stress is bad enough on its own, but mental health experts say it also leads to other health issues from the common cold to metabolic disorders, and even cancer.

CGTN’s Juan Carlos Lamas reports.