The challenges of the present-day world bring numerous problems connected with public health issues. This tendency characterizes the situation all over the globe. One of the most widespread mental disorders, depression substantially contributes to the overall burden of disease (Tolhurst, 2015). Australia is also subject to the depression extension, and the task of paramount importance is to address this issue and find appropriate solutions. In this paper, the summary of the problem is given, and its significance in relation to the whole society and communities is described. Further, the attention is drawn to the current measures aimed at the improvement of the public mental health, and the economic and social matters associated with depression management are considered. Finally, recommendations are offered.
Depression is known as a serious condition that makes an impact on all aspects of a person’s life and involves both physical and mental health (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, n.d.). Depression changes the way people perceive themselves, their lives, and the surroundings: one loses interest in any activities, even the favorite ones, feels miserable, sad, and exhausted, and experiences difficulties in daily routine duties performance. Moreover, depression adds up to the risks of ischaemic heart disease, cancer, diabetes, suicide (Manicavasagar, 2012). It is neither low spirits and whims that any ordinary person might have nor the mere chemical imbalance: the causes are complex. They include the family history, the type of personality, medical conditions, drug usage, alcohol consumption, the events, etc. – since all these issues are common, the problem becomes pressing.
There is little doubt that depression negatively affects the whole world and Australia in particular. It is estimated that more than 350 million people, or 5% of the population, are affected worldwide; in Australia, half of the population (around 12 million people) is to experience depressive disorders by the age of 30 (Hopwood & Malhi, 2016). Throughout the country, about 4.8% of men and 10% of women suffer from depressive disorders yearly (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, n.d.).
As for the local communities, the depression rates are quite high in different states and territories. However, it is possible to single out two types of local communities that fuel concerns: the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and rural and remote areas. The former group is exposed to depression because of discrimination or lower social status. As for the latter group, there are no specific data pertaining to depression in rural communities: according to the research, the suicide death rates for people from rural areas, especially for those aged 15-24, are higher than for the urban population (Tolhurst, 2015). Judging by the connection between suicide and depression, one may arrive at the conclusion that location plays an essential role, but more depression-focused studies are needed.
All these facts give ground to argue that depression is the acute problem, and it is likely to be a matter of public health concern in the future. To improve the situation, both the government and society assume the importance of running programs targeted at people suffering from depression and other mental health disorders. The personalized approach is the feature of such programs: family history, risk groups, and individual considerations are taken into account. For instance, Beyongblue, one of the largest mental health organizations, has developed programs for young people, the elderly, multicultural population, LGBTI persons, and new parents, and another non-profit agency, has developed a School Support program to prevent suicides (Tolhurst, 2015).
In terms of economic and social realms, depression is a matter of importance. Many educational institutions, research facilities, and state-run programs exist nowadays. The government has been supporting them financially for a long time. Apart from the state funding, some companies that seem to have nothing to do with such programs and organizations are also actively involved in a partnership with them: for instance, Rex Airlines cooperates with Grow and its mental health program (Manicavasagar, 2012). The social response is also positive: many volunteers take part in community center activities and initiate different projects. Beyondblue volunteers organize various events, for instance, the meeting “Walk Around the Bay” intended to raise people’s awareness of depression (Tolhurst, 2015). Thus, the economic and social effects of the present-day measures are provided by many stakeholders. One may say that the development of such organizations and encouraging such events are the key approaches now.
To help solve the discussed problem, the following recommendations may be useful. It is necessary to improve the process of mental disease diagnosis because the detection, especially in early stages, is still imperfect. Then, the signs of depression, the basics of treatment, and communicating with people affected by mental diseases should be taught at schools. Finally, it is vital to address the social roots of depression and promote welfare and equality paying attention to minorities and risk groups.
To sum it up, depression is the essential public health issue in modern Australia and worldwide. Since the causes are multiple and complex, it is likely to be equally important in the future. One should continue to use specific programs; in addition, depression diagnosis enhancement, work with schools, and social wellbeing are recommended as possible measures.
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (n.d.). Profile of depression in Australia. Web.
Hopwood, M., & Malhi, G. (2016). To screen for depression or not?. Medical Journal of Australia, 204(9), 329-330.
Manicavasagar, V. (2012). A review of depression diagnosis and management. InPsych, 34(1). Web.
Tolhurst, P. (2015). Development of Australian chronic disease targets and indicators. Web.