Your Mind Matters: Mental Health and Kidney Disease
- Staff
- May 5
- 4 min read
Caring for your mind is just as important as caring for your kidneys. This Mental Health Month, learn why mental health matters in CKD and free science-backed strategies you can start today.
Taking Care of Your Mind and Kidneys
Living with CKD affects more than your body. It can impact your emotions, relationships, and overall sense of well-being.
This study found that about 1 in 5 people on dialysis and 1 in 4 people with a transplant experience depression.
According to self-reported data, 25% of people with kidney disease experience depression or other mental health challenges.
A cross-sectional study reported that 57% of children with kidney disease experience some mental health disorders. 78% reported having a poor quality of life.
Yet mental and behavioral health (MBH) concerns, like depression and anxiety, are often overlooked in kidney care. The good news? There are proven, science-backed ways to improve mental health.
Why Mental Health Matters in Kidney Disease
Research shows that patients who receive mental health support are more likely to:
Take medications as prescribed
Maintain healthy behaviors
Report a better quality of life
Science-Backed Strategies to Support Mental Health
Here are practical, evidence-based steps you can start today to boost mood, resilience, and your sense of control:
1. Get Help Early
If you’ve felt persistently sad, anxious, hopeless, or detached for more than two weeks, reach out to your healthcare team. Mental health conditions are common and treatable. Therapy, medication, or a combination of both can help you feel more like yourself.
2. Talk About It
Connecting with people who understand what you’re going through can ease loneliness and boost motivation.
Here are NKF resources created to help you connect with others:
NKF Peers: Connect 1-1 with a trained peer mentor on the phone whose lived well with kidney disease.
NKF Communities: Anonymously speak with others in the kidney community online.
3. Practice Mindfulness or Deep Breathing
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs lower anxiety and improve emotional well-being in people with chronic illness, including CKD.
Try these simple daily practices:
Take 5 slow, deep breaths before dialysis or medication
Spend 10 minutes noticing what you see, hear, and feel
Use free guided meditation apps or online videos
4. Stay Physically Active
Low-impact exercise is safe and beneficial for most people with kidney disease.
Staying active can help:
Improve blood pressure
Boost energy levels
Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
Walking, gentle stretching, yoga, or stationary cycling are often good options, but ask your care team which activities are safe for your stage.
5. Protect Your Sleep
Sleep is essential to your well-being. Poor sleep can worsen anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
Tips for better sleep:
Stick to a consistent bedtime and wake-up time
Limit caffeine, especially in the afternoon
Turn off screens at least 30 minutes before bed
Talk to your doctor if dialysis or medications interfere with sleep. They can suggest strategies or adjustments to help you rest better.
6. Eat Well
Proper nutrition can help most people maintain their kidney function. It can also improve mood, energy, and overall sense of well-being.
Tips for eating well with kidney disease:
Balance your nutrients: Work with a dietitian to get enough protein, vitamins, and minerals while limiting sodium, phosphorus, or potassium as needed.
Plan meals: Prepping meals reduces stress around food choices and helps you stick to your diet.
Stay hydrated: Fluid needs vary depending on your kidney disease stage or dialysis schedule. Follow your care team’s guidance.
A kidney dietitian can help tailor your plan to your tastes, lifestyle, and culture, making it easier to follow long-term.
The Future of Mental Health in CKD
Historically, nephrologists haven’t been trained to diagnose or treat mental health conditions. But that’s beginning to change. In a groundbreaking effort, the National Kidney Foundation formed the first-ever Working Group dedicated to creating practical recommendations for identifying and addressing mental and behavioral health needs in kidney care for both adults and children. The initiative’s first meeting took place in late September 2025. It brought together roughly 45 participants—including nephrologists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and patients—to explore the best ways to integrate mental health care into nephrology practices.
Where the Working Group Stands Now
The team has since broken into five work groups to develop detailed recommendations that bring mental health support into kidney care, including how to:
Better identify emotional and behavioral health needs
Connect patients with the support they deserve
Once the recommendations are reviewed, the project will enter a “crossover review", where each work group reviews another group’s recommendations to help strengthen the guidance and make sure it is practical, effective, and ready for real-world use.
Then these recommendations will go through the Delphi process, a structured method experts use to reach an agreement on complex topics. The team hopes to complete this phase by June 2026. Once finalized, the recommendations will be submitted for publication in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD) and potentially a psychology journal to help share the findings with kidney care and mental health professionals.
For people living with CKD, this work represents an important shift. Mental health challenges like stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout are common but often overlooked parts of kidney disease. Integrating emotional and behavioral health support into kidney care could help more people feel heard, supported, and better equipped to manage life.
Take the Next Step
Caring for your mind is part of caring for your kidneys. By taking small, science-backed steps every day, you can improve your emotional well-being and your overall quality of life.
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