Depression is on the rise, China
Depression is probably the most talked-about mental illness right now in China. With more and more attention and discussion, people can’t help but ask: Are more and more people suffering from depression in this era? Are there more people with depression, or has it become an epidemic because of so much talk?
The recognition rate and treatment rate of depression are insufficient
According to Jiang Sisi, an attending physician in the Department of Clinical Psychology, Peking University Sixth Hospital, data from the WHO shows that between 2005 and 2015, the number of people diagnosed with depression in the world increased by 18.4%, while the world population grew by only 12.7% during the same period, significantly outpaced population growth. According to data from the China Health and Health Commission, the prevalence of depression is on the rise, reaching 2.1% in December and 3.4% in a lifetime.
Jiang Sisi added that what is worrying is that compared with the high prevalence rate, the recognition rate and treatment rate of depression are insufficient. The latest data published in “The Lancet Psychiatry” in 2021 shows that suffering from depression Of the respondents, only 9.5% had received psychiatric-related services, and only 0.5% had received adequate treatment.
Who is more prone to depression?
Like most mental illnesses, depression usually begins in the early stages of life, and the earliest onset of various types of depression is around the age of 14. The prevalence is 3 times higher in individuals aged 18-29 than in individuals aged 60 and older.
Many people think that only introverted and pessimistic people get depression. What is the actual situation?
Jiang Sisi said that compared with cheerful people, people who are negative, introverted, and neurotic are indeed more likely to suffer from depression; experiencing more serious negative events in childhood will also increase the risk of depression in adulthood; Stressful events such as major setbacks may become the cause of depression. In addition, depression has certain genetic risks. If a person has a first-degree relative with the disease, the risk of depression is about 2-4 times higher than the average person.
Jiang Sisi emphasized, “People with these risk factors are more likely to suffer from depression compared with other groups, but this does not mean that people who are cheerful and outgoing, have a happy childhood, have a smooth life, and have no family genetic factors are not. The possibility of depression. There is no absolute ‘immunity’ for anyone, and the cases of psychiatrists themselves suffering from depression are real.”
Jiang Sisi said that although the incidence of depression continues to increase, and topics related to depression are being discussed by more and more people the proportion of untreated depression patients in the entire patient population is still very high. “So, when someone around you thinks that he may have an emotional problem, rather than suspecting that he is exaggerating or moaning, maybe he should be more concerned about what is wrong with him.”
Manifestations of different types of depression
Different groups of people have different manifestations of depression, and each has its characteristics. For example, children’s psychological problems often start with physical discomforts, such as stomach pain, dizziness, and chest tightness. If there are no related physical problems after the physical examination, parents may want to pay attention to the child’s recent emotional state, life events, academic pressure, etc.
Women are at higher risk of depression than men, and pregnancy and postpartum are the most vulnerable periods of a woman’s life. Jiang Sisi explained that after giving birth, women often experience a temporary, physiological period of depression called “postpartum depression”. This period can manifest as mild depressive symptoms such as sadness, crying, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, decreased concentration, etc. 40%-80% of women experience these symptoms within 2-3 days after giving birth, usually peaking within a few days and remission within two weeks. However, if the mother, especially the people around her, fails to detect her emotions in time, and actively helps to adjust them, she develops into feeling depressed, sensitive, easy to lose her temper, easy to cry, feel aggrieved, and feel that she can do nothing after two weeks after giving birth. We must be vigilant, whether there is a problem of postpartum depression. Especially if postpartum women are not interested in their children, feel unhappy when they see their children, do not want to take care of them, or think they are incapable of raising their children well and are worried that they will hurt their children, they should be more vigilant.
Source: China Youth Daily
