Man: Are you more subjected to DEPRESSION than women?

Depression is no longer an unfamiliar term to the public nowadays. In New York, the number of people who are suffering from depression has been drastically increased since September 11, 2001. In Hong Kong, it is also estimated that a rising number of people suffering from depression after the sequelea of SARS on the emotions of survivors, as well as suicide of our celebrity, Mr. Leslie Cheung on April 1, 2003. The World Health Organization estimates depression will become the second “killer” in the coming 20 years. All of these news raise our awareness about the presence and commonality of depression around us.

Depression, also named as the common cold of mental disorder, is a serious emotional disorder. It can vary in severity from mild to very severe. It is most often episodic but can be recurrent or chronic. Depression can affect individuals at any stage of the life span, although the incidence is highest in the middle ages. Though depressive feelings are common, especially after experiencing setbacks in life, The leading causes of depression may involve genetic factor, family history of depression, environmental change such as economic recession and psychosocial factors like early parental loss, poor courtship, interpersonal problems, loss of a relationship, financial problems, death of loved one, lack of social support, long term lack of self-esteem, etc.. On of the tragic outcome of a depressive disorder is suicide. The death of Mr. Leslie Cheung is a live example of depression. Although the reasons leading to his depression were controversial, Leslie was suffered from depression and had previous attempts to commit suicide.

With the impression from Mr. Leslie Cheung, do you think that men are more vulnerable to depression? People who support the motion may say that men are under greater stress from work and financial burden especially under the economic downturn. Moreover, they are being educated to hide up their emotions from others even their spouses. As a result, they may have higher chance of suffering from depression. On the contrary, the data reflected that women have twice opportunity than men to be suffered from depression. This is due to the interplay of psychosocial factors like multiple social roles of woman, facing with lot of social constraints, hormonal changes, as well as adjustments in marriage and family relationship. Moreover, women are prone to ruminate on negative thinking will make them more likely to become depressed.

In Hong Kong, it is estimated that around 10% of the total population are suffering from a certain degree of depression. However, not all the people who suffered from depression would seek for professional help. It is anticipated that only one third of them have received proper treatment. Perhaps the most serious complication about not seeking proper treatment in depression is suicide. About 80% of those committed suicide in Hong Kong were suffered from depression. Despite women are easier to become depressed, the mortality rate of depressed men tends to be higher. This is due to unwillingness of men to seek for social and emotional support, nor for professional help. The mortality rate of individuals aged over 55 is also reported higher than other age group among the depressed patients. Some researches also indicate that depression would inhibit the immune system, which may relate to a higher death rate.

Without proper treatment would lead to recurrent depressive episodes constitutes another serious problem. Around 50-85% of people who suffered from first episode of depression will have a second one. People who have had a second episode will have a 70% chance of a third episode. And about 90% who have had a third episode will have a fourth relapse.

If you are really impressed by the potential lethality of depression, then you should pay particular attention to your own mental health as well as people surrounding you such as your family members, friends and colleagues. As we says, depression appears from a mild form to what is called clinical or major depression. Signs and symptoms of mild form depression include sadness, disappointment, loneliness, self-criticism, low self-esteem, guilt, shame, boredom, tiredness, lack of interest and mingling life. Whereas clinical or major depression emerges in the following ways:

Five or more of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and the symptoms cause clinically significant distress in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning:

• depressed mood most of the day
• markedly diminished interest in almost all activities
• significant weight loss or weight gain
• insomnia or hypersomnia
• psychomotor agitation or retardation (slowed thought and movement)
• fatigue
• feeling of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• diminished ability to think/concentrate or indecisiveness
• recurrent thoughts of death

Apart from the above signs and symptoms, negative thought is another important thinking pattern that will appear in depressed people. They tend to hold a variety of negative beliefs about themselves, the world around them and their future. For example, Ms A suffered from depression for more than one year. Recently, she had a quarrel with her supervisor. Although the issue had been resolved and she gained support from her department head and her colleagues, she cried every time when she recalled the event. She was preoccupied with the negative thoughts about “why did her supervisor treat her like that?”; “Why’s the world has so many unfairness?”; “I’m stupid, useless and a failure”; “My life has been screwed up and I can see no future at all.”, etc.. Ms. A was preoccupied by the issue for more than one month and could not see the reality that the issue was over. The one who loses was her supervisor, instead of herself.

Hence, it is important to reckon that every single episode of depressed mood warrants early intervention. To seek for consultation and counseling from the helping profession, such as counselors of Employee Development Service, psychologists and psychiatrist, would prevent the deterioration of the depression. Hence, don’t waste the time on waiting. Act now!