Scientists have revealed that the continuing economic crisis, combined with uncertainty about the future and generalised insecurity is increasing depression rates in the Greek population dramatically and is threatening their bodily health.
It has been estimated that in Greece 33 per cent of women and 25 per cent of men (about 1.1 million women and 850,000 men) are suffering from mild to serious depression.
According to experts, the economic crisis currently constitutes the main cause of the increase in depression cases throughout the world. It is estimated that the disease affects 350 million people worldwide. According to the results of a worldwide study on mental health carried out recently in 17 countries, about 1 in 20 people reported experiencing an episode of depression in the past year.
The disease can affect people from all walks of life and in certain serious cases it can lead to suicide, experts say. Every year and all over the world about one million lives are lost due to suicides, or about 3,000 deaths on a daily basis. Suicide in Greece has risen by a third since the crisis hit, according to the Daily Mail.
On September 6, protesting firemen, police, and coastguard staged hangings outside of parliament to draw attention to the increased suicides in the face of austerity and crisis. According to the World Health Organisation, by the year 2020 depression will be the second most common reason for inability to work and by 2030 the first, unless drastic measures are taken to combat it. Source: Athens News/le, AMNA
