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Travel Health home • Travel Health Advice • Mental illness   Mental illness Avoid over-ambitious plans travel as a solution to an episode of mental illness travel without seeking advice from a GP or psychiatrist travel shortly after a mental illness requiring admission travelling without insurance Travellers should: make sure expectations are realistic choose travelling companions carefully be prepared for cultural differences, attitudes, delays and frustrations. take sufficient medication keep medication in hand luggage. A quarter of people will have at least 1 episode of severe depression in their lifetime and mental illness is one of the most common causes of health problems abroad.   In addition, travellers should be advised to: discuss their mental health with their GP before booking the trip. disclose their condition when choosing malaria prevention medication; mefloquine should not be used by those with mental illness make sure their itinerary is not too hectic as fatigue and frustration fuel anxiety, agitation and depression give themselves time to recover from jet lag make sure their travelling companions are suitable to minimise the chance of stressful relationships. seek help before they depart if they or others feel they are suffering from mental illness. Getting there Endless travel can increase stress. Patients with mental illness should travel infrequently, staying in places for sufficient time to rest and relax. Jet lag can increase stress so they should allow plenty of recovery time. Climate and environment Lack of daylight can adversely affect depression so patients should think carefully before travelling to places with high latitude winters. Drugs used for schizophrenia can increase sensitivity to sunburn. Lithium levels can be increased by dehydration. Patients should be warned to avoid illicit drugs, which can precipitate severe psychiatric illness, psychosis, delusion paranoia or depression alcohol - a major cause of depression stressful situations, such as running short of money physical illness, which can lead to recurrence of psychiatric disease Altitude and depth Travellers should not mistake the delusions and abnormal behaviour associated with acute mountain sickness for psychiatric disease. If in doubt they should descend.

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