Depression still not understood - study

Nearly two-thirds of people would be embarrassed to discuss depression with their peers, and most think the illness is not well understood, a survey has found.

The latest research in the series Mind Yourself - the Lundbeck Mental Health Barometerreveals depression is considered a more disruptive illness than cancer and heart disease.

When compared with other illnesses in terms of perceived disruptiveness, depression (71 per cent) was rated above cancer (68 per cent), Parkinson's disease (64 per cent), heart disease (47 per cent), anxiety (32 per cent), diabetes (12 per cent) and asthma (11 per cent).

Some 86 per cent of people surveyed believe depression is a very common condition in Ireland, but 81 per cent do not think it is well understood.

It is estimated that about 400,000 people in Ireland - one in 10 of the population - suffer from depression at any one time. Organisations such as Aware offer support for people dealing with depression.

The research revealed that 64 per cent of people would be embarrassed to discuss depression with their peer group and that 27 per cent believe it to be a "state of mind" rather than an illness.

Some 87 per cent of people who suffer from depression believe there is some element of social stigma attached to the condition. Although 93 per cent of people surveyed thought it was important to discuss depression openly, 82 per cent of people with depression did not find it easy to discuss.

A total of 78 per cent of those surveyed said they would visit their GP to discuss depression, and only 24 per cent would discuss it with their family or friends..

Dr Eamonn Shanahan said: "Even though depression and anxiety disorder are very common in Ireland, often they are not adequately recognised or treated. Depression and anxiety disorder affects a person's ability to carry out everyday tasks.

"If left untreated it will progress and possibly worsen which is why talking to a healthcare professional about it is so important. There is increasing help available for these problems, and seeking help is the first step in the recovery process."