India is still a backward and developing country. It is no surprise then that in a country such as ours depression is one of the most prevalent and common mental health illnesses that people suffer from along with anxiety.
Depression is a common mental disorder with over 280 million people of all ages, an estimated 3.8 per cent of the population suffering from it globally, as per the World Health Organization.
It is thus expected that in the next ten years, depression will put more burden on nations than any other disease, as per World Bank.
Some common symptoms of Depression include:
- having little interest or pleasure in doing things
- feeling hopeless
- dealing with erratic sleep cycles
- poor eating habits
- low levels of energy
- low self esteem
- having trouble concentrating
- being restless
- having thoughts of self-harm
- irregular mood cycles
- social isolation
India has one of the highest prevalence’s of mental illnesses globally, without adequate medical infrastructure to help those in need.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India’s mental health workforce is severely understaffed. There is a massive shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists compared to the number of patients suffering from severe mental health issues.
According to the international organisation’s data, there are only three psychiatrists and psychologists for every 1,00,000 people. It has predicted that owing to the pandemic and its influential factors, the number of patients who have any kind of mental disorders would touch 20 per cent in the country.
Narrowing the focus down to India, roughly, about 56 million Indians suffer from depression, and 38 million suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder.
From World Health Organization
Every year, about 2,00,000 Indians take their lives. The statistics are even higher if one starts to include the number of attempts of suicide.
According to a report, in the year 2022 the prevalence rate of depression in India is 4.50% and the cases stand at 56,675,969.
Moreover, according UNICEF reports which warned that the pandemic can impact the mental health and well-being of children and youth for years, one out of seven children among the age group of 15- to 24-year-olds feels depressed or has little interest in doing things.
In India, states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha seem to have the highest prevalence of depressive disorders.
With such increasing statistics, it is important to eliminate an illness such as depression in our country, in order to have a better quality of life.
Though doctors are not aware that it’s possible to prevent depression altogether, you may be able to keep it from coming back if you’ve already had an episode.
There’s no sure way to prevent depression.
The best ways to deal with mental illnesses include:
-Find healthy coping skills for stress and improve your self-esteem.
-Take good care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. This means getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly.
-Reach out to family, friends and other loved ones when times get hard.
-Get regular medical checkups, and see your provider if you don’t feel right.
-Get the necessary help if you think you’re depressed. If you wait, it could get worse.
Disclaimer : This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You must seek the advice of your physician or other qualified Mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Sources-
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/depression-rates-by-country
- https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/one-in-seven-indians-between-15-24-years-of-age-feel-depressed-lack-interest-in-doing-things-shows-unicef-report/articleshow/86807417.cms
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/43-indians-suffering-from-depression-study/articleshow/77220895.cms
