Mental health professionals yesterday introduced a 30-minute video on the symptoms and medications available for depression, a condition that affects nearly three percent of the world's population.
The John Tung Foundation (
Officials from the foundation said many people feel ashamed to speak of their depression and instead try to deal with the condition themselves. They appealed to the public to be more attentive to their family and friends for signs of depression, which include a tendency to silence and listlessness.
Since people often ignore the condition because of embarrassment and a lack of understanding of its nature. "We have to raise awareness of the problem, even in young people," said the foundation's president, Yen Tao (嚴道).
Depression is very common, although it often goes unnoticed. In view of its close link with suicide, health professionals have appealed to the public to consult a doctor if they feel any indications they might suffer from depression.
"Depression is not only a kind of emotional feeling, but also a mental illness," said Hu Wei-herng (
"If the symptoms of depression, such as insomnia, a diminished appetite, a drop in libido and a general lethargy continue for more than two weeks, it's necessary to see a doctor," Hu said, emphasizing that "depression is something that can be treated."
According to epidemiological statistics, depression, cancer and AIDS are the three main global diseases. The WHO says that depression is closely linked with suicide and most individuals who commit suicide were clinically depressed.
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in Taiwan, according to statistics gathered by the Department of Health.
"An estimated 50 percent to 70 percent of those who commit suicide here suffered from depression," Hu said. "Fifteen percent of patients who had been diagnosed as being clinically depressed eventually took their own lives."
Women are more at risk from depression, with 20 percent showing signs of the illness, while 10 percent of men suffer from depression, Hu said.
However most people feel some sort of depression sometime during their lives, although this is not a sign of trouble, Hu said.
Hu said the statistics also show that Taiwan's population has a rate of depression lower than the global figure, but pointed out that this indicated that people in Taiwan were underreporting the illness, not that there are in fact fewer cases here proportionally.
As to the treatment of depression, Hu said it depended on the patients' situations. "Usually patients have to take medication for around two to four weeks," Hu said.
In addition to medicine, "Support from family and friends is also important and therapeutic to patients," Hu added.
The foundation has circulated the video on depression to Blockbuster rental shops for free distribution.
Further information can be found on the Internet at
ttp://www.king-health.com.
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