Search Here

In a rather disturbing report, an international team of researchers, revealed that about three-fourth of depression patients report discrimination.

The study led by Professor Graham Thornicroft at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, quizzed 1082 depression patients receiving treatments in 35 different countries about their experiences of discrimination.

According to the study findings, about one third of depression patients who participated in the study reported being avoided or shunned by other people because of their mental health problems.

About a third of the participants stopped themselves from initiating a close personal relationship due to the anticipated discrimination; one-fourth of the participants said they did not apply for jobs at some point because they expected discrimination.

However, it was found that those who expected discrimination did not necessarily find it to be true with experience. About half of the participants who expected discrimination while finding a job or for keeping one, apparently said they did not really face discrimination. The same was found to be true for those who expected discrimination in their personal relationships.

Further findings of the study revealed that about three fourth of the participants said they actively wished to hide their depression from others. This raises concerns that depression patients may be discouraged from seeking treatment due to fears of discrimination if they disclose their condition.

"Previous work in this area has tended to focus on public attitudes towards stigma based on questions about hypothetical situations, but ours is the first study to investigate the actual experiences of discrimination in a large, global sample of people with depression. Our findings show that discrimination related to depression is widespread, and almost certainly acts as a barrier to an active social life and having a fair chance to get and keep a job for people with depression," Professor Thornicroft said.  

Dr Anthony Jorm at the University of Melbourne in Australia, highlights the importance of the new study in a comment, adding that "further research could provide much needed input into the design of anti-discrimination interventions-such as public education about human rights and the effect of discrimination on the person with depression; action from health services to help overcome anticipated discrimination as a barrier to help seeking; and the incorporation into treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy of techniques to address anticipated discrimination and symptoms."