November 9th, 2008
Since people (especially the medical community) know about gender differences in depression, (several studies have shown that there is a statistically significant difference (mostly) in the ‘expression’ of symptoms rather than the ‘experience’ of depression in males than in females which can explain gender-specific types of depression), yet choose to still treat men and women ‘equally’ (IE. The same) is nothing less than gender bias.
Lets imagine the same scenario, but with a more ‘acceptable’ illness such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes with a more ‘vulnerable’ segment of society (IE. women, children, the elderly), and (justifiably), public outcry would ensue.
Similarly, the lack of public interest in depression is disproportionate to common knowledge of depression and its symptoms.
Available information regarding depression and its symptoms is plentiful .‘Visible’ symptoms include instability (work, relationships, finances), lack of energy, isolation, bad decision making. Even the correlation between substance abuse and depression is acknowledged. Hence, calling depression an ’invisible’ illness is false.
The most commonly used reason (excuse?) for depression (and overall mental illness) not being as acknowledged as other organic diseases, is ‘lack of education’. Educating oneself (or not) is a conscious decision. We choose to educate ourselves or remain ignorant.
That said, the availability of information is the first step to un-stigmatizing depression, and here’s hoping we reach that soon.
Since people (especially the medical community) know about gender differences in depression, (several studies have shown that there is a statistically significant difference (mostly) in the ‘expression’ of symptoms rather than the ‘experience’ of depression in males than in females which can explain gender-specific types of depression), yet choose to still treat men and women ‘equally’ (IE. The same) is nothing less than gender bias.
Lets imagine the same scenario, but with a more ‘acceptable’ illness such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes with a more ‘vulnerable’ segment of society (IE. women, children, the elderly), and (justifiably), public outcry would ensue.
Similarly, the lack of public interest in depression is disproportionate to common knowledge of depression and its symptoms.
Available information regarding depression and its symptoms is plentiful .‘Visible’ symptoms include instability (work, relationships, finances), lack of energy, isolation, bad decision making. Even the correlation between substance abuse and depression is acknowledged. Hence, calling depression an ’invisible’ illness is false.
The most commonly used reason (excuse?) for depression (and overall mental illness) not being as acknowledged as other organic diseases, is ‘lack of education’. Educating oneself (or not) is a conscious decision. We choose to educate ourselves or remain ignorant.
That said, the availability of information is the first step to un-stigmatizing depression, and here’s hoping we reach that soon.
posted by Gregoire at 7:38 PM
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