Depression is frequently expressed as “a cold of the mind.” That means that this illness is easy to catch, and it is also easily cured, like a cold. However, depression patients may kill themselves if they do not get proper treatment. Recently, the proportion of depression patients has increased. Therefore, reports by the press about incidents related to depression have also increased. For these reasons, depression is no longer an illness unaccustomed to the masses. This depression causes many social problems.
The most serious problem that is caused by depression is suicide. It is said that two-thirds of depression patients are thinking of suicide, and from ten to fifteen percent of them really attempt suicide. This suicide incidence is a problem in not only the loss of individuals, but also the serious effect on surrounding people. That is because of the “Werther effect.” The Werther effect is a phenomenon where people attempt suicide when celebrities or role models commit suicide. In the case of celebrity suicide, the influence range of the Werther effect is more extended.
The other problem is caused because depression patients usually lose their will to live. From an economic point of view, the productivity of individuals and the efficiency of work falls. This phenomenon brings negative effects to society because the lower efficiency of individuals causes the loss of a whole society’s efficiency. These declines of society’s economic efficiency and an increase in suicide make the atmosphere of society dark. This can be an obstacle to forming a healthy society.
Recently, the reasons for increasing depression are that, in the rapidly changing society, the pressures and the stress that are given to individuals are increasing. As people enter an information-oriented society, the choice and utilization of information along with people’s adjustment to a changing society are important. For this reason, the inability of adaptation to rapid change is beginning to occur. In the process of adaptation to environment, people get extremely stressed, and it can be a reason for depression. Additionally, lacking the time to take care of themselves in their lives with a fast tempo and decreasing of concerns about surrounding people also can cause depression.
To cure depression effectively, it is best to combine medication with mental healing. Above all, not giving up during their process of curing is most important. However, prophylaxis comes first. In their busy lives, taking time to care about themselves and having more love for people who have some symptoms of depression are good preventive measures of depression. Depression is definitely not a slight illness. However, if we have enough interest and treat them properly, depression patients can recover completely. Having a certain viewpoint of depression and taking an interest in people around them are good ways to reduce depression.