Siliconindia :Wednesday, 10 October 2012, 16:52 IST
A healthy mind is a boon, and it can be only understood by those who suffer from an unquiet mind or a mind which needs professional attention. On the World Mental Health Day this year the World Federation for Mental Health has chosen depression as its theme. As per the survey more than 350 million people are affected by depression of all ages and men and women from all backgrounds. Despite effective treatment available for depression, less than half affected receive the treatment worldwide. As per the World Health Organization, on the world’s scale Indians are the most depressed.
Depression is categorized by the range of its episodes in three types- mild, moderate or severe. The study also revealed that around 9 percent of Indians are reported to have extended term of depression in their lifespan and 36 percent suffer from major depressive episode (MDE).
The MDE is described by sadness, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, loss of interest or pleasure, low energy and poor concentration in addition to feeling depressed.
Depression is ranked fourth as the foremost cause for disability worldwide by WHO.
Speculations have been made that by 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of world disability and by 2030 is expected to contribute to the largest disease bulk.
In India the average age for depression is 31.9 years, whereas in the U.S. and China it is 22.7 years and 18.8 years respectively. An average age of depression that occurs in an individual in France is 28.4 years and in Germany it is 27.6 years.
One out of 10 people worldwide suffer from major depression and almost one out of five persons experience depression in a lifetime, informs the World Psychiatric Association.
Depressive symptoms start at a young age and could be persistent, without medical attention. The nation with high number of individuals inflicted with MDE were the ones earning higher income, is 28.1 percent, than with ones with low or middle income scale nations, is 19.8 percent. The members of WHO were called for a recent assembly to take effective measures to control depression.
Most severe depression can lead to suicide if one avoids medical care. In mild cases it can be treated without medication, with therapy. Whereas, in moderated and severe cases medical attention is needed as it declines the suicide rate.
Research has shown that depression is a more critical condition than asthma, diabetes and arthritis. People suffering from depression keep on suffering and it may prove fatal as it interferes with their day to day life, as one stops taking interest in work, studies, sleep and other activities, as said by Lancet study
Depression can be tackled with reliable diagnoses and non specialist treatments, which can be a part of primary health care, say experts. Specialists care is a must for complex or severe conditions, also for those who have not responded to the first level of treatment.
The Government of India has drafted a new health bill for the mentally ill which allows the patients the right to choose the type of treatment they need. It has proposed the ban on electro convulsive treatment (ECT) or electric shock therapy for minors and its use is recommended rarely, in severe cases.
The world is becoming a hard place to survive with economic meltdowns and lay off; the pressure it causes on mankind has made depression and other mental disorders prevalent. The first step to fight this threat is by increasing awareness and understanding. Most importantly the taint that depression carries when someone admits to suffering from it needs to be erased. It has to be seen as any other illness that can be dealt with, only with such an approach we can put a lid on depression. WHO has put depression on top priority and is covered it under its Mental Health Gap Action Programme, which will increase the medical attention around the world.
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