If the 20th century was considered the most tensed-up period in history, the 21st century is set to exceed it by far. Depression is one of the most serious health hazards of today, and has reached epidemic proportions. We live in a disorderly world where people are highly competitive, commercialized and power hungry. This leads to a lot of stress and anxiety. It is estimated that about 40% of the population is on tranquillizers. WHO figures say that 5-12% of people are depressed. In India, there are 50 million sufferers of which 5-10% have major depression. Almost 50-75% of suicides are by people who are depressed. In Zimbabwe, depression is called "shona," meaning "thinking too much."
No one is immune to Depression. It affects all ages from young children to senior citizens, manual labourers to corporate heads, literate or illiterate. Winston Churchill who suffered from depression called it the "black dog." Abraham Lincoln also suffered from bouts of depression. "It hits the most ambitious, creative and conscientious," says Jeffrey Spellar, a psychiatrist.
Women are three times more likely to suffer from depression due to their varying hormonal cycles, and are vulnerable premenstrually, after delivery, and during the perimenopausal years. Though about 80% of women suffer from post partum "baby blues" which last for a few days and resolve spontaneously, about 20% suffer from severe depression leading to suicidal tendencies, harming or killing their babies, or refusing to breast feed. Irritability, sleeplessness, weeping without reason, are some of the signs that warn of severe depression.
Men are depressed on specific issues like failure in business or loss of a job. The elderly, who live alone or who are totally dependant on others also suffer anxiety and depression.
During adolescence, both boys and girls are equally vulnerable. The transitory period before adulthood is a bewildering time of experimentation. Th
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