Depression statistics
World Health Organization (WHO) compares depression with epidemic outbreak spread in the whole world. Depression takes the lead among reasons for absence from work and is rated second among incapacitating illnesses. If relevant measures are not taken in time, by 2020 the depression would have paralyzed the economics of both developed and developing countries. Every year about 150 million people in the world become incapable of work because of depression. Because of it only the economics of the US suffers an estimated 50 million dollar loss annually. This amount includes the costs of 290 lost working days, psychotherapeutic aid and worsening of work quality. According to WHO`s forecast, by 2020 the depression would have taken the first place among all diseases leaving behind today`s leaders- infectious and cardiovascular diseases. Now depression is the most common disease among women. According to American Psychiatric Association presently in the US more than 15 million people suffer from depression. Other researches name even larger figures: more than 26% of women and 12% of men. In the USA depression is number two reason for sick leaves and number one reason in Sweden. In the US, Canada and most countries of Western Europe about 80% of antidepressants are prescribed by general practitioners, not psychiatrists. According to researches carried out in the US, people who are susceptible to depression are at twice the risk of dying of other diseases. Women have depression twice as frequent as men (20-26% against 8-12%). There is no such divergence in children with depression- it usually becomes apparent in adulthood. Actually, it is not that the stronger sex has better immune system, just men, unlike women, rarely resort to professional aid preferring to suppress depression symptoms by alcohol, medicines or diving into work. This fact has been confirmed by researches carried out among some religious concessions which prohibit using alcohol and medicines. Frequency of depression in men and women in these concessions were equal. Therewith there are types of depression which affect only women due to their physiological peculiarities (e.g. PMS, depression accompanying menopause, severe postnatal depression which affects every tenth woman). About 50% of all people suffering from depression never seek medical aid, and only 25-30% of the rest visit a psychiatrist. Unipolar depression is a leading reason for disability among children above 5 years old. Special researches showed that 60% of all patients seeking medical care have depression symptoms of various levels of severity. Meanwhile, the traditional medical methods used in clinics allow to detect depression only in 5% of depressive patients who turn there. Depression is diagnosed in 22-33% of hospitalized patients, in 38% of oncological patients, in 47% of stroke patients, in 45% of myocardial infarction patients and in 39% of Parkinson’s disease patients. Not long ago depression mostly developed in patients aged 30-40, presently the disease has “grown younger” dramatically, and now depression often affects young people below 25. Among those who was born before 1940, the number of people who had depression before the age of 25 makes up 2,5%. Among those born in 1940-1959 this figure makes up 10%. There is no data available for later dates; however, this growth tendency is kept on. In 2-3% of people development of depression does not depend on any external circumstances (endogenous depression), in the rest depression occurs as a reaction to stress (psychogenic depression). 45-60% of all suicides on the planet are committed by depressed patients. As predicted, in 2020 depression would become 1 “killer”. Depressed patients kill themselves 35 times more often than non-depressed ones. 50% of patients with endogenous depression and 20% with psychogenic depression try suicide. People with mild to moderate depression have ability to give more objective assessment of reality (it was even mentioned by Freud). Thus, in one research after half an hour of a shooting game the gamers were asked to name the number of monsters killed by them. People with depression named a figure maximally close to real. The ones who were not depressed exaggerated their results by 4-6 times. Other research showed that both depressed and non-depressed people answer equally well to abstract questions, but when it comes to control over some events, non-depressed people suggest that they have better control of things than they actually do; depressed people are able to give a more accurate estimation of their abilities.
The sickness of annual catalog of new antidepressants reaches 3 cm. If you experience the first episode of depression the possibility of a recurrence makes up 50%, in case it is the second episode the possibility of recurrence makes up 70 %, and 90% in case of third episode. Married couples where at least one of the spouses is depressed break up 10 times more often than couples where none of the partners is depressed. A number of researches in the USA showed that depression affects homosexuals more often than heterosexuals. Another research with participation of 60 thousand workers showed that people who work in the sphere of nursing, elderly and child care are exposed to depression most of all (11,3%), job holders in the sphere of public catering go next (10,3%), and doctors are in the third place (9,6%). Scientists, architects and engineers are susceptible to depression least of all (4,3%). Among the unemployed the number of the depressed makes up12,7%. Very often depression develops in family members of depressed patients. Approximately 20% of people who have depressed relatives are susceptible to depression, whereas this figure among those who have no depressed next of kin makes up just 7%. The risk of developing depression among singles and divorced people is 2-4 times higher than among family people. At the same time divorced and single men are at greater risk than divorced and single women.
Depression and neurosis in schoolchildren
Every parent knows that school is a new stage in the life of their offspring. To any child school means new friends, new sensations, new people and new order of day. All of this are not always well-endured by child`s organism and psyche. These are the factors which may cause “school” neurosis and depression.
Depression and neurosis in children of school-age is their body`s protest against novelties in their life. Almost every child faces some problems in the first year at school. It is very difficult for them to get used to all changes. However, most doctors and scientists claim that neurosis and depression in such children are developed due to hereditary inclination to these mental disorders.
Some clinical researches have been carried out to confirm or deny this theory. The results of these researches showed that there are three main types of depressive children. The children belonging to the first group have apparent psychiatric deviations. They always behave improperly, and it is impossible to calm them down. Neither parents, nor children are able to get to such children. They do what they like, and very often not to their advantage. They are always aggressive and do not do well at school.
Industrious schoolchildren are in the second group of depression-prone children. These children usually do very well at school, but get exhausted very quickly and always take everything too close to heart. These all get them off the rails and they turn into rogues out of quiet children. They fall into depression and loose interest in everything around. These children lock their worries inside themselves. They never share their problems with anybody else.
The representatives of the third group also include clever and diligent children. They are quick on the draw and behave themselves in class. However, they are always afraid of something. They are just unsure of themselves. Every word may surge up strong emotions within them expressed with tears. Their fears result in their unwillingness to go to school.
Despite the differences of the three groups, they have one thing in common. All of them are controlled by fear which is developed since the early childhood. Every parent may notice how his child is afraid to approach other kids in playground or in the kindergarten. The child may also be afraid of darkness or to sleep alone in the room. All these indicate that the child is fear haunted. These fears make the child feel nervous and depressed and change his behavior at school.
There are several types of phobias, but the most common is internal chronic phobia. Children of school age who suffer from this type of phobia are more exposed to depression and neurosis. This type of fear “gnaws” at them from inside, though they do not display it. There is nothing worse than this type of phobia. The parent can do nothing to help their children, since they do know anything about their feelings. Such children carefully disguise their problems.
However, if you notice or feel that something is wrong, consult the school psychologist. It is best to start fighting the problem at its initial stage. Most of you could think that such a condition of the child is temporary and it would pass away soon. However, it is not that simple. Soon, your child will be cooking up a quite a few excuses to skip school. Of course, you will be opposed, and your child would feel more and more nervous and depressed and you won`t be able to keep him long under control. The child will grow up, and then leaving home for school he would often turn aside from his way, and you would no longer be able to do anything about it. Depression and neurosis should be treated from the early age.
Keep in mind that you should never impart your fears to your children. If you are afraid of something, never show it in their presence. Very often children start to be afraid of the same things as you. Children often learn to do same things as their parents. Remember, that you are responsible for the normal state of mind of your child. Be on the guard so that your child would never suffer from neurosis or depression. Everything depends on your attention, care and love.