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New research has found that 1 in 2聽Australians living with Crohn鈥檚 disease and ulcerative colitis experience psychological distress associated with these chronic illnesses. Many people aren鈥檛 routinely assessed and lack access to services to support their physical and mental wellbeing.

To coincide with Crohn鈥檚 and Colitis Awareness Month in May, survey results released by Crohn鈥檚 & Colitis Australia found that 50% of patients reported psychological distress and 59% of patients agreed that having access to a mental health expert is an important part of managing their Crohn鈥檚 disease or ulcerative colitis, collectively called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Yet, only 16% of patients reported being asked about their mental health by their doctor or nurse 鈥� and of those patients not asked, 56% indicated that they would have liked to have been.

Associate Professor Leanne Raven, Chief Executive of Crohn鈥檚 and Colitis Australia, said that anxiety and depression remain undiagnosed and unsupported in large numbers of patients with IBD.

鈥淢ost people have access to specialists for their physical health, such as a gastroenterologist, but only 12% have a psychologist in their team and 11% are currently seeing a psychologist,鈥� she explained.

鈥淲hile Crohn鈥檚 and colitis are considered physical diseases, their mental impacts are significant but often left untreated. Our research shows 1 in 2 Australians living with Crohn鈥檚 or colitis experience significant psychological distress 鈥� only 15% of those surveyed were seeing a mental health clinician and because of the invisibility of the disease people around them often won鈥檛 realise.

鈥淧eople who live with IBD often have no visible symptoms, but the conditions can prevent them from working or going out, keeping them socially isolated,鈥� Assoc Prof Raven said.

鈥淭he stigma and misunderstanding around these conditions mean thousands of Crohn鈥檚 and colitis patients are suffering in silence. That鈥檚 why Crohn鈥檚 and Colitis Awareness Month is so important. It鈥檚 an opportunity to increase understanding of these diseases and their impacts.鈥�

At least 85,000 people in Australia have been diagnosed with IBD 鈥� Iife-long gastrointestinal disorders that commonly present in adolescence and early adulthood. These chronic conditions can cause ulceration and inflammation in the colon (ulcerative colitis) or any part of the digestive system (Crohn鈥檚 disease). An established global problem, Australia has among the highest prevalence of IBD in the world.

There is currently no cure for Crohn鈥檚 or colitis. This means 1 in 250 Australians are living with these chronic, unpredictable, life-long and potentially life-threatening conditions.

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Image credit: 漏stock.adobe.com/au/sewcream