Mental health" can be defined in different ways. Some define it as the absence of mental disorders, others as psychological well-being or a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of everyday life.

In its report for the year 2022, the WHO indicated that in 2019, almost one billion people - including 14% of adolescents worldwide - were suffering from a mental disorder. Suicides accounted for more than 1 in 100 deaths, 58% of which occurred before the age of 50. It should be noted that people with serious mental disorders live 10 to 20 years less than the general population, often as a result of preventable physical illnesses. Since the first year of the pandemic, depression and anxiety have increased by more than 25%.

Hardly any other psychoactive substance is as controversial as cannabis. Cannabis is defined as a 'medicinal herb' by some people and as a 'devil's herb' by others... a neutral approach to the subject is very rare. In today's society, cannabis is a subject often avoided. Although its medical and perhaps even social/personal benefits are increasingly recognised, cannabis remains a taboo subject that many people prefer to avoid. But why is this so?

Historical stigma and prejudice: One of the reasons for the persistent taboo surrounding cannabis is the long-standing stigma and prejudice associated with the plant. For decades, cannabis has been associated with drug abuse, crime and a destructive lifestyle. This stereotypical representation has led many people to automatically regard cannabis as something negative, without looking at the real facts.

The Sleeping Beauty dilemma: everyone knows the tale of Sleeping Beauty. After a long wait, a royal couple had their long-awaited child. Twelve fairies were invited to the feast to bless the young girl, but a thirteenth fairy was ignored because there was no gold plate for her. Suddenly, this fairy burst in and cast a deadly spell on the princess: when she was 15, she pricked her finger on the spindle and died. Fortunately, another fairy had not yet given her blessing and mitigated the curse: "Instead of dying, she will only fall into a deep sleep that will last a hundred years, at the end of which the prince, the son of a king, will come to wake her up". The royal couple immediately had all the spindles and spinning wheels burnt. What's more, the people were no longer allowed to talk about spinning wheels.

The spindle became a taboo. At the age of fifteen, Sleeping Beauty set off alone into the world, without knowing what a spindle was or the advantages and risks of a spindle. She climbed the stairs of a castle tower and saw an old woman spinning. After a brief hesitation, she grabbed the spindle, pricked herself and fell asleep. You can read the rest of the tale if you like. As a society, what have we learnt about addiction prevention from this tale: NOTHING! Cannabis (like other substances and consumer products) simply remains taboo, even though it exists in the world. So what else could the royal couple have done? They could have told Sleeping Beauty about the existence of such spindles, empowered her to make responsible and informed decisions, made her understand that at 15 she shouldn't be using a spindle yet, and that when she reaches a certain age and decides to use a spindle despite all the possible risks, there will be finger protectors to avoid pricking her finger.

Let's return to the subject of cannabis: of course, there is no such thing as risk-free cannabis consumption... but certain risk-reduction strategies make it possible to minimise these risks... Of course, simply passing on information has only a limited effect. Everyone knows that smoking can be fatal, yet many people smoke. It's important to discuss and confront people and their environment: what concerns them on a daily basis and what role cannabis plays in this context. As a society, we need to wake up from the Sleeping Beauty dilemma, assume our responsibilities and discuss cannabis in a neutral way, because a taboo around cannabis is problematic, because it hinders open and informed dialogue about the potential risks and benefits, and thus makes it difficult to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies. Let's wake up from Sleeping Beauty's slumber.

What does the law say?

Since July 2023, adults have been able to grow a maximum of 4 cannabis plants per household in Luxembourg. Adults may consume cannabis that they have grown themselves within their household. It is prohibited to:

• transport, sale, distribution;
• possession and consumption in a public place;
• consumption with or in the presence of minors;
• all cultivation and consumption by minors is prohibited;
• driving under the influence of cannabis.

What are the effects of cannabis?

Do you have any questions about cannabis? Visit the web site of CNAPA.

Contact: 
CNAPA - Centre National de Prévention des Addictions
Write them on WhatsApp: 691 497 755
Hotline: 49 77 77 - 55
E.: cannabis@cnapa.lu

The term "depression" is used in many different ways. Indeed, anyone can feel sad, discouraged or depressed, e.g. in the event of illness, stressful social situations or difficult events. However, depression is defined as a major depressive disorder when symptoms last for at least two weeks, interfere with the person's ability to carry out work and daily activities and affect the quality of personal relationships.
People with depression are not losers, lazy or whiny. They suffer from a serious illness that prevents them from coping with the stresses of life and managing everyday tasks.
Like diabetes or bronchitis, depression has its causes, symptoms and treatments. The earlier it is recognised, the better it can be treated.

Depression can affect anyone:

It is estimated that one in five people will suffer from depression at least once in their lives. Depression can affect anyone: people of all ages, professions and social strata, men, women and even children.
Although depression is one of the most common mental disorders, it is little known to the general public and often misunderstood. There is no single cause of depression. Depression is most often the result of a combination of different causes. The illness may develop slowly and gradually, or it may appear suddenly and unexpectedly.

Depression has many faces:

Not everyone affected by depression has the same symptoms. Some experience a lack of energy and drive, while others feel restless. In general, there is deep sadness and apathy, accompanied by a feeling of inner emptiness. Those affected often have difficulty concentrating, sleep disorders and a variety of physical problems. Some may experience oppressive anxiety. Depression affects all areas of life: daily tasks, professional obligations, leisure activities and social contacts. The severity of the depression varies and can go as far as a total inability to manage daily tasks. Some people experience only one depressive phase in their lives, lasting from a few weeks to a few months. For others, depressive phases may recur over time.

Depression can be treated:

Today, depression can be effectively treated with psychotherapy and/or certain medications. Unfortunately, since depression is not always diagnosed, these treatment methods are not widely used. Psychotherapy enables us to learn strategies for dealing with problems in a different way. Depending on the severity of the depression, antidepressants may also be indicated. Antidepressants are neither habit-forming nor personality-changing. Taken regularly, they reduce the symptoms of depression in the majority of cases. Whether outpatient or inpatient treatment is indicated depends on the severity of the depression and the presence of a high suicide risk. In all cases, treatment for depression is prescribed by a healthcare professional and individually tailored.

Being a good listener can already help:

Like other mental illnesses, depression is little known and poorly understood. People around them often believe that the person is responsible for his or her troubles, and that all they have to do is pull themselves together. This often leads to a disinvestment on the part of family and friends, who mistakenly believe that only doctors and psychologists have a role to play in recovery. However, as with any illness, people suffering from depression need to be understood and supported by those around them.
Those around them have just as important a role to play as the professionals. It's not a question of taking the place of the health professional or giving medical recommendations. Being present and listening is enough to help the person feel less alone, and contributes to his or her recovery.

Contact:
SOS Détresse
T.: 45 45 45
E.: info@sosdetresse.lu
www.454545.lu
7/7 (11h00-23h00) and Friday and Saturday the whole night until 3h00