Mental Health and Kidney Disease: Let’s Talk About It This Awareness Month

If you live with kidney disease – or care for someone who does – you already know: mental health is part of the journey. Depression, anxiety, and emotional burnout are common among kidney patients and caregivers. And it goes both ways. People living with mental health conditions are also at higher risk of developing kidney issues

This relationship is more than emotional, it’s also medical. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can lead to physical symptoms that affect mental well-being, such as fatigue, poor sleep, and pain. At the same time, mental health conditions can contribute to kidney problems. Research suggests depression is associated with increased inflammation, higher blood pressure, and less adherence to treatment plans – all of which can worsen kidney health.

For dialysis and transplant patients, mental health challenges are often intensified. The time commitment for dialysis, eating restrictions, feeling like a burden to others, the cost of treatment, and the uncertainty of the future can be overwhelming. More work needs to be done to address these mental health challenges.

Mental health care is health care. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of mental health resources to help kidney patients and their loved ones find support, build resilience, and advocate for whole-person care. View those below:

• Coping, Living, and Thriving with Kidney Disease

• Dialysis Patient Depression Toolkit

If you or someone you know is navigating kidney disease and struggling with mental health, you are not alone. Sharing stories, building community, and breaking the stigma are powerful ways we can help each other heal.

Have a story about your journey with mental health? Contact the Northwest Kidney Council staff at info@nwkidneycouncil.org.