Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 12:39 pm
I don't know why depression is getting so much attention at the moment. I can offer a few speculations, though.
Perhaps it's partly because there have been a few " high profile-cases ", at least in the UK. For example Stephen Fry, a well known comedy actor and TV figure has spoken quite openly of his own depression. And a Guardian journalist recently wrote a very insightful article about his own experience of, and partial recovery from, depression.
Another reason could be that it's just becoming more and more of an acknowledged social/medical/economic issue. My Doctor told me once that she thought that as much as 40% of her case-load might be, at root, linked to depression. While relatively few people may go to her about depression, she suspected that a lot of problems such as smoking or eating too much, stress-related illnesses, sleeping problems etc, may well have some link to depression.
And, perhaps there is more willingness to talk about mental health issues than there used to be? And, as a result, when someone does talk about their own experience of depression, perhaps people are more confident now about saying: " Really? Me too. " than they used to be?
Perhaps it's partly because there have been a few " high profile-cases ", at least in the UK. For example Stephen Fry, a well known comedy actor and TV figure has spoken quite openly of his own depression. And a Guardian journalist recently wrote a very insightful article about his own experience of, and partial recovery from, depression.
Another reason could be that it's just becoming more and more of an acknowledged social/medical/economic issue. My Doctor told me once that she thought that as much as 40% of her case-load might be, at root, linked to depression. While relatively few people may go to her about depression, she suspected that a lot of problems such as smoking or eating too much, stress-related illnesses, sleeping problems etc, may well have some link to depression.
And, perhaps there is more willingness to talk about mental health issues than there used to be? And, as a result, when someone does talk about their own experience of depression, perhaps people are more confident now about saying: " Really? Me too. " than they used to be?